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+

10 Rob Zombie – Hell Billy Deluxe 2 – Mars Needs Woman
09 Armored Saint – La Raza – Left Hook From Right Field
08 In This Moment – A Star Crossed Wasteland – Just Drive
07 Charred Walls Of The Damned – Charred Walls Of The Damned – The Darkest Eyes
06 White Wizzard – Over The Top – 40 Deuces
05 Overkil – Ironbound – The Green & Black
04 Danzig – Deth Red Sabaoth – Hammer Of The Gods
03 Filter – The Trouble With Angels – The Inevitable Relapse
02 Ratt – Infestation – Lost Weekend
01 Ihsahn – After – Frozen Lakes Of Mars

During episode 11 we interview Frank Salvaggio from Anew Revolution and Robbie Crane from Ratt. Both are very stand up guys, very easy to talk to, and furthers my belief of having just a normal conversation with artists as opposed to doing a “Kent Brockman” type interview (sorry I say Trent during the episode).

In any event, we touch on the following items during the interviews, from Frank’s side his past in Slaves On Dope, putting Anew Revolution together, song writing, gear, etc. With Robbie we talk about Juan Croucier, Vince Neil, being in the band for roughly 15 years, Infestation, the drama surrounding the band, etc.

During the episode you will hear parts of the following songs:

Anew Revolution’s “Head Against The Wall” & “Ashes From Stone” both come off of the bands recently released iMerica
Ratt’s “Eat Me Up Alive”, “Best Of Me” & “A Little Too Much” all off of their latest release Infestation

Other items discussed:

Anew Revolution, Slaves On Dope, Unloco, E1 Music, Bill Meis, Frank Salvaggio, Joey Duenas, Ozzfest, Taproot, Sugar Ray, 311, Lemonade & Brownies, Snot, Drowning Pool, Nonpoint, Limp Bizkit, Shinedown, Sevendust, Gojira, Marilyn Manson, Hatebreed, Journey, Killswitch Engage, Projekt Revolution, Kittie, Insane Clown Possie, Coolio, Tara McLeod, Ivy Vujic, Randall Amps, Pearl Drums, Sabian Cymbals, ESP Guitars, Metallica, EMG Pickups, Ratt, Vince Neil, John Corabi, Motley Crue, Carved In Stone, Dust Brothers, Brent Woods, Kid Rock, Beastie Boys, Young MC, Tone Loc, Funky Cold Medina, Exposed, Steve Stevens, Paul’s Boutique, Phil Sousan, Out Of The Cellar, Vertex, Stephan Piercy, Al Pitrelli, Juan Croucier, Carlos Cavazo, Quiet Riot, Metal Health, Condition Critical, Robyn Crosby, Bobby Blotzer, Warren DiMartini, Michael “Elvis” Baskette, Roadrunner, Loud And Proud, Infestation, Fender Precision Bass, Rotosound Strings, Marshall Amps, Ampeg Amps, Hiwatt Amps, Steve Harris, John Entwistle, Metal Army America, Talking Metal, Mark Strigl Radio, Background Noise, Van Halen, Dan Lorenzo, Hades, Non-Fiction, The Cursed, Misery, Chad Gray, Mudvayne, Cory Taylor, Slipknot

Download MP3

Download From iTunes

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

Here are the songs that where played during this episode:

Ratt – Eat Me Alive
Vince Neil – Tattoos & Tequila
Danko Jones – Full of Regret
Scorpions – Rockzone
Airbourne – No Way But The Hard Way
Slash (With Andrew Stockdale) – By The Sword
Godsmack – What If?
Non-Point – Miracle
Wildestarr – Arrival
Demon Hunter – This Is The Line
Deftones – Diamond Eyes
Savage Messiah – Insurrection Rising
The 69 Eyes – Dead Girls Are Easy

Items discussed:

Infestation, Below The Belt, Sting In The Tail, No Guts, No Glory, Wolfmother, The Oracle, Dave Starr, Amazon Metal Sampler, Amalgamate