Godhead – Elenor Rigby (The Beatles)
Social Distortion – Under My Thumb (Rolling Stones)
H2O – Like A Virgin (Madonna)
Heaven Below – Heartbreaker (Pat Benatar)
Helloween – I Stole Your Love (Kiss)
ZO2 – All Hell’s Breaking Loose
Aerosmith – Helter Skelter (The Beatles)
Korn – Another Brick In The Wall Part 1, 2, 3
Anthrax – Exit (U2)
Metallica – Last Caress / Green Hell (Misfits)
Pantera – Cat Scratch Fever (Ted Nugent)
Megadeth – Paranoid (Black Sabbath)
Overkill – Death Tone (Manowar)
Testament – Rapid Fire (Judas Priest)

Shredding The Envelope – Caravan Of Cannibals
Aerosmith – Lord Of The Thighs
Anthrax – Earth on Hell
Anthrax – Black Dahlia
Megadeth – Public Enemy No. 1
Generation Kill – Red, White, and Blood
Bumblefoot – Let Your Voice Be Heard
Sister Sin (Featuring Doro) – Rock N Roll
Watchtower – The Size Of The Matter
Warbringer – Shattered Like Glass
Demon Hunter – The Wind
Fair To Midland – Whiskey & Ritalin
High Spirits – Nights In Black
White Wizzard – West L.A. Nights

Black ‘N Blue
Hell Yeah!

Anytime a band puts out an album I try and compare it to a band’s past work, and the best thing to have recently come out by a similar band. Without a shadow of a doubt (at least to me) Ratt’s Infestation is the best hard rock album of the past few years, the best album from a band of this type of hard rock/metal. The album sounds like a classic Ratt album, but is also up to date in sound, making it also sound very fresh. Bands from the 80s are sometimes put in a tough spot. Do they imitate their past glories to keep their core audience happy, or do they try putting out something more up to date in the hopes of capturing some new followers? Ratt was able to do both, could Black ‘N Blue do the same?

Black ‘N Blue’s biggest claim to fame at the moment is that current Kiss guitarist Tommy Thayer originally played in the band. Although they had a song or two that was played on rock radio, and played on some decent tours, they aren’t one of the most popular bands of that era. Perhaps this album demonstrates why? Or perhaps Thayer not being part of the mix has effected how the band writes?

The album is by no means bad, and I’m sure plenty of fans of this type of metal will tell me I don’t know what I’m talking about, but the album really lacks originality, or any sort of real catchiness. There are some solid songs on the album, but they all sound like other bands. For example Target sounds like Kiss, Fools Bleed like Aerosmith and, Hail Hail like AC/DC. Actually C’mon sounds as if it is left over track from the Kiss album Animalize.

Again the album isn’t bad, and I’m sure most fans of 80s hard rock and metal will enjoy it. Getting back to the Ratt album, that album didn’t bring anything new to the table, however it did add a chapter to the band’s history that can be argued about, and compared in a good light to their classic albums. You could definitely tell that was a Ratt album. There is nothing wrong with a band demonstrating their influences, but as far as Hell Yeah! is concerned, maybe one song that I can point to and say, oh yeah, now that’s Black ‘N Blue.

Rating: C+

During this episode of the podcast our guest is author, musician, and host of the show Glory Is Noise, Joel Gausten. Joel discusses his latest book From Sabbath To Satan, the aforementioned show which can be found on RadioFreeSatan.com, his work with the bands like The Undead, Electric Frankenstein and Pigface. He also describes what it was like being seventeen, in high school and being asked to help out Doyle and Jerry Only while they were trying to resurrect the Misfits. He dispels any rumors regarding his exact involvement in the band, and references a few projects that he is working on, including one for this very web site.

If you are interested in purchasing any of his books, go to GaustenBooks.com

The episode features the following songs:

Misfits – Mars Attacks
Killing Joke – The Great Cull
Prong – Prove You Wrong
Bill Ward – Bombers (Can Open Bomb Bays)

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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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Tonight’s episode of Mars Attacks Radio is based on books I have read recently regarding various artists. As a result you will hear music from the following acts:

Ozzy Osbourne, Aerosmith, Slash, Motorhead, Fozzy, Motley Crue, Sixx AM, Brian “Head” Welch, Andy Taylor and Pantera

The episode debuts tonight at 8PM EST / 5PM PST on stream A of MarkStriglRadio.com

Did a Q&A Interview for Metal Army America with New Jersey’s own Doc Coyle. For those of you that don’t know he’s the guitarist for God Forbid. You can read the interview here.

On a side note the top picture was taken back in March at B.B. Kings in NYC, while the second shot was taken in June 09 at the now defunct Kobetasonik Festival in Bilbao Spain.

Episode 14 of Mars Attacks Podcast contains two interviews. One with Airbourne rhythm guitarist David Roads, and another with Age Of Evil frontman Jeremy Goldberg.

Dave discusses the band’s success, the pressure (or lack thereof) when recording No Guts No Glory the follow up to their highly successful album Runnin’ Wild. He also discusses his gear, and whether or not he has every thought of joining lead singer/guitarist Joel O’Keeffe up in the rafters during a show.

Jeremy discusses Age of Evil’s EP Get Dead, their previous work with Marty Friedman and their desire to work with various hard rock and metal legends including Rob Halford. Jeremy also comments on what it was like touring with Jon Oliva’s Pain, and what their dream tour would be.

Topics covered during this episode are:

David Roads, Joel O’Keeffe, Marshall, Gibson Guitars, Lemmy, Download Festival, WWE, No Guts No Glory, Runnin’ Wild, Airbourne, Bob Marlette, Johnny K, Seymour Duncan, Status Quo, Ampeg Amps, Slash, Aerosmith, NASCAR, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Motorhead, AC/DC, Age of Evil, Get Dead, Motley Crue, Bruce Springsteen, Van Halen, Guns N Roses, Chad Kroeger, Jon Oliva, Jon Oliva’s Pain, Savatage, Gravedigger, Rebellion, Skid Row, Judas Priest, Girlschool, Marty Friedman, Megadeth, Cacophony, Jason Becker, Rob Halford, Nuno Bettencourt, Extreme, Trans Siberian Orchestra, Iron Maiden, W.A.S.P., Marshall JCM 800, JCM 900, Gibson Les Paul, Jackson Custom Shop Guitars, Jackson Custom Shop Bass, DW Drums, Seymour Duncan Pickup, Sacred Reich, Dave Ellefson, F5, Flotsam & Jetsam, Soulfly, NAMM.

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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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This is the playlist for Episode 30

Soulfly – Vulture Culture
Vince Neil – Another Piece Of Meat
Y&T – On With The Show
Ratt – A Little Too Much
Ihsahn – The Barren Lands
Ozzy Osbourne – Let Me Hear You Scream
Bullet For My Valentine – Your Betrayal
Armored Saint – Loose Cannon
Anew Revolution – Ashes From Stone
Deftones – Rocket Skates
Danko Jones – Full Of Regret
Annihilator – Coward
Godsmack – Devils Swing