I made the trek down to Metal Mayhem on Tuesday to pick up the new BLAZE, picked up a few other things while I was there, and when I got home I saw my package of shit from ebay had turned up as well. Nice. Here is what I got.
BLAZE - Blood & Belief
From the first listen I could tell, yes, this is good and exactly what I was hoping the band would do, a straight out heavy metal album of solid heavy rock/metal songs. It still sounds the same as their other stuff (which is good!), but there is no concepts or anything, just solid songs. Upon further listens, I realised, hey this is actually a kick arse album! I rate it higher than The Tenth Dimension already (and I quite like TTD). It does seem to have an ongoing theme of inner struggles through the album and is alot more personal than anything Blaze himself has done since perhaps 2am with Maiden, but all the songs can be taken for what they are. Excellent album, contender for album of the year for me so far.
Grave Digger - The Reaper
Have only given this one one listen, and it has some good material in it, but is easily the weakest GD album I have heard, though it is also the earliest I have heard, and it the only one with average production. Will give it another whirl later.
Grave Digger - Heart Of Darkness
Didn't get to give this one a full proper listen, but I really liked what I heard. Same good production as their later stuff. Will definately give this another listen later today.
Rebellion - A Tragedy In Steel: Shakespeare's Macbeth
Ex-Grave Digger members new band do a concept album about Macbeth. I haven't really listened yet, just chucked it on to see what it sounded like. Sounds alright, but not near as good as Grave Digger, as the vocalist has nothing on Chris (from GD). Good riffing though, the music sounds pretty much just like GD stuff, but not as good from what I heard. Also, not knowing the story of Macbeth probably won't help. Oh well, will give it a proper listen later.
Darkane - Insanity
Have wanted this for ages but hadn't seen it at a decent price until the other day. Brutal thrashy melodic death. Some of the best melodic death I have heard. Awesome.
Die Krupps - The Metalmorphisis Of Die Krupps '81 - '92
Have wanted some of their stuff for ages, as I have had heaps downloaded, and this best of was cheap. The best industrial metal I have heard, very thrashy. Awesome.
Judas Priest - Ram It Down
Have had this for ages, but wanted the remaster. Awesome album, sounds even better remastered. PRIEST!

BLAZE - Blood & Belief
From the first listen I could tell, yes, this is good and exactly what I was hoping the band would do, a straight out heavy metal album of solid heavy rock/metal songs. It still sounds the same as their other stuff (which is good!), but there is no concepts or anything, just solid songs. Upon further listens, I realised, hey this is actually a kick arse album! I rate it higher than The Tenth Dimension already (and I quite like TTD). It does seem to have an ongoing theme of inner struggles through the album and is alot more personal than anything Blaze himself has done since perhaps 2am with Maiden, but all the songs can be taken for what they are. Excellent album, contender for album of the year for me so far.
Grave Digger - The Reaper
Have only given this one one listen, and it has some good material in it, but is easily the weakest GD album I have heard, though it is also the earliest I have heard, and it the only one with average production. Will give it another whirl later.
Grave Digger - Heart Of Darkness
Didn't get to give this one a full proper listen, but I really liked what I heard. Same good production as their later stuff. Will definately give this another listen later today.
Rebellion - A Tragedy In Steel: Shakespeare's Macbeth
Ex-Grave Digger members new band do a concept album about Macbeth. I haven't really listened yet, just chucked it on to see what it sounded like. Sounds alright, but not near as good as Grave Digger, as the vocalist has nothing on Chris (from GD). Good riffing though, the music sounds pretty much just like GD stuff, but not as good from what I heard. Also, not knowing the story of Macbeth probably won't help. Oh well, will give it a proper listen later.
Darkane - Insanity
Have wanted this for ages but hadn't seen it at a decent price until the other day. Brutal thrashy melodic death. Some of the best melodic death I have heard. Awesome.
Die Krupps - The Metalmorphisis Of Die Krupps '81 - '92
Have wanted some of their stuff for ages, as I have had heaps downloaded, and this best of was cheap. The best industrial metal I have heard, very thrashy. Awesome.
Judas Priest - Ram It Down
Have had this for ages, but wanted the remaster. Awesome album, sounds even better remastered. PRIEST!

