The latest episode of Mars Attacks Podcast features interviews with Hades guitar tandem Dan Lorenzo, and Scott LaPage. The first half of the episode contains an interview with Scott in which he touches on his new band The Freeze Tag Assassins, his blues playing and the Hades reunion (among other things). During the Dan Lorenzo segment, he discusses not only the Hades show, but being featured in Moshed Potatoes, the soon to be released Hades and Non-Fiction split DVD, the possibility of their being new music from either band, and the current status of The Cursed which features Blitz from Overkill, and Scream Metal the cover band he shares with Alan Tecchio (also of Hades and Non-Fiction) and Mark Strigl, and John Ostronomy of Talking Metal fame.

Dan not being one to mix words has some interesting comments regarding the Big 4, and alludes to the fact that Hades was playing a certain Joe Jackson cover well in advance of another New York Tri-state area band.

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This episode contains the second part of an interview I conducted with former Helloween lead singer Michael Kiske, sorry for the delay. As mentioned during a previous post, he just recently put out an album with Amanda Somerville called Kiske Somerville, and is currently working on an album with the band Unisonic. You’ve read a lot of things our there regarding his thoughts on metal music, well if you’re a fan, you need to listen to both interviews to see what he really things of metal, his fans, his future with Unisonic, and his former band mates, etc.

During the episode you’ll hear tracks off of the album with Amanda Somerville, and a bunch of classic Helloween that features Michael on lead vocals.

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These are the top 30 hard rock / metal albums of 2010 as per the audience.

1 Deftones – Diamond Eyes
2 High On Fire – Snakes For The Divine
3 The Dillinger Escape Plan – Option Paralysis
4 Enslaved – Axioma Ethica Odini
5 Periphery – Periphery
6 Agalloch – Marrow Of The Spirit
7 Triptykon – Eparistera Daimones
8 Alcest – Ecailles De Lune
9 Ihsahn – After
10 Iron Maiden – The Final Frontier
11 Kvelertak – Kvelertak
12 Decrepit Birth – Polarity
13 Watain – Lawless Darkness
14 Intronaut – Valley Of Smoke
15 Kylesa – Spiral Shadow
16 Blind Guardian – At The Age Of Time
17 Nachtmystium – Addicts: Black Meddle Pt. 2
18 The Ocean – Heliocentric
19 Nevermore – The Obsidian Conspiracy
20 Cephalic Carnage – Misled By Certainty
21 Overkill – Ironbound
22 Electric Wizard – Black Masses
23 Soilwork – The Panic Broadcast
24 Fear Factory – Mechanize
25 Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare
26 Grand Magus – Hammer Of The North
27 Torche – Songs For Singles
28 Immolation – Majesty And Decay
29 Misery Index – Heirs To Thievery
30 Accept – Blood Of Nations

Thanks Again For Voting!

This episode contains the first part of an interview I conducted with former Helloween lead singer Michael Kiske. He just recently put out an album with Amanda Somerville called Kiske Somerville, and I was lucky enough to interview him regarding the album, his past with Helloween, and his current band Unisonic. This is a must listen to interview if you are a fan of Helloween as he discusses how and why he was fired from the band, why he thinks the band was never able to recapture what they did on the original two Keeper of the Seven Keys albums, and why Ingo

We also touch on a plethora of other topics, just take a look at the tags to get a rough idea of what we discussed. Part 2 should be up next week.

During the episode you’ll hear tracks off of the album with Amanda Somerville, some of his solo work (including a track that features Iron Maiden’s Adrian Smith and ex Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen), a Helloween track that was retooled for a solo acoustic album, and of course some classic Helloween that features Michael on lead vocals.

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During this episode we have interview with Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens, and James Luna, lead singer of Holy Grail, and former lead singer of White Wizzard. Holy Grail have just released a great new album called Crisis In Utopia. During Luna’s portion of the interview we discuss the making of said album, his influences, playing Waken, and his time in White Wizzard, where he goes into detail to discuss the issues he and former member of the band (James LaRue, and Tyler Meahl both in Holy Grail) had with Jon Leon. Now before anyone jumps to conclusions I did try and contact Jon to get his side of things so that people can determine for themselves what really happened. One of the things that I love about doing interviews for my podcast is that listeners can directly from an artist. It isn’t like playing telephone where things are sensationalized just to put another notch in someone’s proverbial gun. Had I of been able to interview Jon people would have been able to (again) choose for themselves whether what all of these former members are saying is true, or not. Maybe Jon has a good reason that isn’t coming across? Or maybe things are cut and dry, exactly like all of the former members are saying, and is why the label, and Jon himself has decided to not come on the show.

Ripper’s interview was conducted late last year, it is one of a handful of interviews that were conducted for MarkStrigleRadio.com and has yet to be released as a podcast. During this episode we discuss Hail!, his solo album Play My Game, Yngwie Malmsteen, Beyond Fear, Charred Walls Of The Damned, and the abrupt end to his tenure in Iced Earth. Tim is very forth coming, and honest when talking about John Schaffer, and what was promised to him when joining IE, and how it differs to how Judas Priest and Yngwie Malmsteen approached him.

I recommend both interviews to anyone that has been following the dysfunctional history of Iced Earth or White Wizzard, or are fans of either one of these two great lead singers.

During the episode you’ll hear the following tracks:

Holy Grail – Nocturne in D Minor
White Wizzard Shooting Star
Holy Grail – My Last Attack
Holy Grail – Requiem
Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens – Death Race
Beyond Fear – Save Me
Judas Priest – Blood Suckers

Overall we touch on the following topics:

Hail!, David Ellefson, NAMM, Samson Wireless, Andreas Kisser, Jimmy Degrasso, Mike Portnoy, Paul Bostaph, Ray Mayorga, Soulfly, Stone Sour, Spinal Tap, Sepultura, Alice Cooper, Testament, Simon Wright, Motorhead, Pantera, Judas Priest, Accept, Wendy Dio, Bob Kulick, Chris Caffery, John Comprix, Steve Stevens, Jeff Loomis, Michael Wilton, George Lynch, John 5, Scott Ian, Vinnie Paul, Rudy Sarzo, Billy Sheehan, Bobby Jarzombek, Road Runner Records, Road Runner United, Jeff Waters, Cory Taylor, The Grammys, Beyond Fear, SPV Records, Iced Earth, Yngwie Malmsteen, John Schaffer, Matt Barlow, Judas Priest, Ian Hill, K.K. Downing, Rob Halford, Charred Walls Of The Damned, Richard Christy, Play My Game, Heaven & Hell, Hannah Montana, Pink,Amon Amarth, Exodus, Mahevilant Creation, Deep Purple, Klaus Meine, Scorpions, Manowar, Merciful Fate, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Slayer, Witchfinder General, Racer X, Testament, Lamb Of God, Jeff Loomis, Nevermore, Danny Lohner, Nine Inch Nails, Metal Blade Records, Angkor Wat, Waken Festival, Matt Hyde, Steve Evetts, Nuclear Blast, Side One Dummy, Prosthetic Records, Exodus, Kiss, Erik Kluibert, Jon Leon, Sleaze Roxx, Metal Sucks, Metal Sludge

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This was originally going to be posted on another site, but for some reason was vetoed. In any event this is what I put together.

ACCEPT
Blood Of The Nations

I had the pleasure of speaking to WOLF HOFFMANN a few weeks back regarding this album for my Mars Attacks Podcast. Unfortunately due to technical difficulties the interview was not saved. In any event, I was able to discuss this album at great length with him, along with the insertion of new lead singer MARK TORNILLO, silencing the pro-UDO DIRKSCHNEIDER critics, etc.

Interestingly enough he mentioned that the band got back together again sort of by accident. He and PETER BALTES had decided to jam, and write some music just for fun, and see what came out of it. Shortly after that a mutual friend introduced them to Mark, and there was really no turning back, no audition process what so ever, they knew he was going to be a great fit, and is he ever! As like many ANDY SNEAP produced albums Blood Of The Nations is strong throughout, and in my opinion right up there with some of their classic UDO fronted albums.

Before delving deeper into the album, let me quickly touch upon the UDO subject. I have no issue with ACCEPT continuing without him. The main songwriters in the band have always been Wolf and Peter. Udo did not want to work with them any longer, so why should the band just sit around and do nothing if he’s only interested in his solo career? Also, listen to the material, its much stronger than anything Udo has done throughout what I deem to be a mediocre solo career. Being that I’m also a Hispanic that is originally from New Jersey like Mark (his last name means screw, as in nail, screwdriver, hammer, etc.) helps their cause as well!

Blood Of The Nations does two things, it captures the band’s classic sound, and brings it into the now, making it very fresh and relevant for 2010. As I’ve mentioned this a bunch of times with groups that have been around as long (or longer) than ACCEPT, this is exactly what you want as a fan. I’ve reviewed albums by such bands as RAGE who try and do the same, but it just ends up sounding very thin, and dated. MOTLEY CRUE is another, where they’ve tried to go with what’s hip today, and not stick to what got them to the dance. Again this at least for me it comes off sort of cheap. Similar to how Mark was brought into the band Andy Sneap contacted the band, and offered his services as a lifelong fan of the band. No other producers where even considered, the end result is instant classic worthy material.

Standout tracks in my opinion are the opening track “Beat The Bastards”, the anthemic “Teutonic Terror” which is guaranteed to stick in your head for a few days, “The Abyss” which was the very first track I heard off of the album, the title track “Blood Of The Nations” and “Pandemic”. This album is easily one of the best that has come out in 2010.

Grade: A+
Victor M. Ruiz

During this episode we have two interviews, one with Dan Lorenzo from Hades, The Cursed, and Non-Fiction. With Dan we discuss his entire musical career, covering all of the bands listed above, his solo work, and his involvement in Screaming Metal. We also discuss his love for basketball, various festivals, musical influences, etc.

The other interview included in this episode is conducted with brothers Joe and John from the band Misery. This interview with was conducted as a way to prepare for the release of their debut album. This interview goes over all of the basic information surrounding the band, touching on how the band got together, how they transitioned to be the band they are today, what is was like working with Joey Z, among other things. We’re planning on doing a follow up once the album has been released.

Tracks heard during this interview include:

Keep It Together – Dan Lorenzo
Save You – Misery
Take The Power Back – Misery
A Flower Without Sun – The Greatest Fear
In The Know – Non-Fiction
Absorbed – Hades
Evil In The Bag – The Cursed

Topics covered during both interviews include:

Misery, Visions Of Disorder, Metallica, Guns N Roses, Korn, Joey Z, Life Of Agony, Pantera, Super Metal Records, Method Of Groove Studios, System Two Studios, Metal Army America, Type O Negative, Devil Driver, Metallica, Megadeth, Iron Maiden, Free Reign, Bobby “Blitz” Ellsworth, Tony Iommi, Black Sabbath, Kiss, Aerosmith, Heaven & Hell, Dio, Steppin Out Magazine, Mark Strigl, TMetal.com, The Cursed, Tim McGillis, Big Blue Meanie, Non-Fiction, In The Know, Room Full Of Sinners, Overkill, Savatage, Pete Steele, Tom Coughlin, Hades, Bang Your Head Festival, Twisted Sister, Jimmy Shulmann, Scott LePage, Kevin Bolembach, Infernophonic, Keep It True, Alan Tecchio, Watchtower, Rick Colaluca, Ron Jarzombek, Doug Keyser, Zakk Wylde, Gary Howe, Dimbag Darrell, ZZ Top, Waken Festival, Metal Blade Records, JJ French, Lamour, Dave Mustain, Cassius King, Draw The Line, Talking Metal on Fuse, Screaming Metal, John Ostronomy, Ron Lipnicki, Metal Mike, Halford, Rob Dukes, Exodus, John Kosco, St. Caine, Drop Box, Steve Zing, Danzig, Mark Tornillo, T.T. Quick, Accept, Ace Frehley, Anomaly, C.C. Banana, Merciful Hate, Riot, Swords And Tequila, Judas Priest, Testament, Megadeth, Priest Feast, Cory Proctor, Mark Colombo, Scott Stapp, P.O.D., Don Jamison, Jim Florentine

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The playlist for episode 35 looks like this:

Iron Maiden – El Dorado
Accept – The Abyss
Danzig – On A Wicked Night
Stone Sour – Mission Statement
Nevermore – The Day You Built The Wall
Nonpoint – 5 Minutes Alone
Hell Yeah – Hell Of A Time
Rush – BU2B
Hail The Villain – Runaway
Black Robot – Girls Kissing Girls
The Gracious Few – Honest Man
Anew Revolution – Head Against The Wall

As the title of this post suggests tonight’s Mars Attacks contains new music from the following bands:

Iron Maiden, Accept, Danzig, Stone Sour, Nevermore, Nonpoint, Hell Yeah, Rush, Hail The Villain, Black Robot, The Gracious Few and Anew Revolution

The episode debuts tonight (Thursday) exclusively on MarkStriglRadio.com 8PM EST / 5PM PST

This is the play list for the last episode of Mars Attacks, if you missed the episode it will repeat today, and tomorrow, as well as next week.

Anthrax – Auf Widersehen (Cheap Trick)
Sebastian Bach and Dimebag Darrel – Believer (Ozzy Osbourne)
Halford – Black Out (Scorpions)
Metallica – Breadfan (Budgie)
Rattlebone – Cities Of Flames (Blue Oyster Cult)
Cradle of Filth – The First Still Burns (Twisted Sister)
Fu Manchu – D.O.A. (Van Halen)
Fear Factory – Dog Day Sunrise (Head of David)
Static X – Look That Kill (Motley Crue)
Iron Maiden – I’ve Got The Fire (Montrose)
Soundgarden – Into the Void (Black Sabbath)
Arch Enemy – The Oath (Kiss)