martindavey87

	Metal Genre	Nb. Rated	Avg. rating
1	Progressive Metal	129	3.31
2	Heavy Metal	65	3.03
3	Thrash Metal	59	2.78
4	Power Metal	41	3.00
5	Hard Rock	36	2.83
6	Alternative Metal	25	2.88
7	Nu Metal	25	2.60
8	Rap Metal	24	3.42
9	US Power Metal	23	2.78
10	Industrial Metal	19	3.16
11	Groove Metal	11	2.73
12	Non-Metal	9	2.89
13	Symphonic Metal	9	3.11
14	NWoBHM	8	3.00
15	Funk Metal	8	2.75
16	Heavy Alternative Rock	8	2.63
17	Metal Related	7	2.57
18	Proto-Metal	6	1.83
19	Gothic Metal	5	2.40
20	Glam Metal	3	3.33
21	Crossover Thrash	3	2.67
22	Speed Metal	3	2.00
23	Death-Doom Metal	2	1.00
24	Death Metal	1	1.00
25	Neoclassical metal	1	2.00
26	Technical Death Metal	1	1.00

Latest Albums Reviews

ADRENALINE MOB We The People

Album · 2017 · Heavy Metal

Released in 2017, ‘We the People’ is the third studio album by American groove metal band Adrenaline Mob. Following on from previous outings, it’s full of massive-sounding, energetic, fist-pumping anthems of a very high standard. While the band was originally considered a supergroup when they first formed (they still are, somewhat…), it’s pretty obvious by this point that the core of the band is vocalist Russell Allen (of Symphony X fame), and guitarist Mike Orlando.

Not that that’s a bad thing, as these two have fantastic writing chemistry. Orlando’s absolutely furious guitar playing is insane, and Allen has one of the most incredible voices ever. Sounding extremely “metal”, yet able to drop emotion in on a whim, both of their styles fit really well.

As for the music, yeah, it’s pretty similar to everything they’ve released before, but why fix what isn’t broken? It’s heavy, groovy and melodic, and an amazing production gives it the massive, beefy sound that it deserves. Highlights include ‘King of the Ring’, ‘Raise ‘Em Up’, ‘We the People’, ‘The Killer’s Inside’, ‘Bleeding Hands’ and ‘Chasing Dragons’, but, to be honest, the whole album is just brimming with bangers, and each track flows into the next effortlessly.

Overall, ‘We the People’ is another fantastic record by one of the most underrated metal bands of the 2010’s. Everything about this album, from the songs, the production, even the artwork and the imagery, all fall perfectly into place, and if you like your music heavy (and you’d better, if you’re listening to this), then this is definitely an album worth owning.

1 day ago
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Report #885970

METALLICA Live Shit: Binge & Purge

Boxset / Compilation · 1993 · Thrash Metal

Originally released in 1993, ‘Live Shit: Binge & Purge’ is an audio and visual tour de force of live music by Metallica. During the absolute peak of their world tour for 1991’s ‘Metallica’, they released a monstrous box set featuring three different concerts, two on video (later DVD, thankfully) and one on three CD’s.

Having become worldwide megastars with their 1991 self-titled release, the band would go on to tour the world, multiple times for over a staggering three years. Which brings us to the CD’s and the first DVD; the live album part of it is from a show in Mexico City, whilst the DVD is of a similar show from San Diego. Both concerts are fantastic, with excellent performances, sound, and in the case of the DVD, great picture. However, one major downside is the endless “noodling” and messing around between songs.

Yeah, it’s come to be expected, and is pretty harmless enough, but there’s so many random solo spots, messing around, jams, and countless other bits of shameless banter, that after a while, it does wear a bit thin. At one point, there’s 20 minutes of tomfoolery before they start another song, and during ‘Seek and Destroy’ James interacts with the crowd for over ten minutes. It’s fun at first, but after repeated listens, it does get quite boring fast.

Then there’s the second DVD, filmed in Seattle and taken from the bands 1989 tour in support of ‘…And Justice For All’, and this is a fantastic concert. This was a great time for the band as they were still “on the way up”. The playing is incredibly tight, the sound and picture are excellent, especially given the age of the footage, and with a great set list to boot, this random addition to the box set makes it totally worthwhile.

Everyone performs brilliantly on all three concerts. Even Lars, bless him, far from the best drummer in the world, but his boundless enthusiasm and excitement is infectious, and Jason Newsted’s copious amounts of energy makes me sad for how things turned out for him. With around nine hours of content, ‘Live Shit…’ is certainly not for the faint of heart, but overall, any detriments aside, this is an absolute beast of a box set, and truly belongs in every Metallica fans collection.

3 days ago
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Report #885955

BON JOVI Bon Jovi

Album · 1984 · Hard Rock

Released in 1984, ‘Bon Jovi’ is the self-titled debut album by hard rock band, Bon Jovi, named after their vocalist and soon-to-be worldwide megastar, Jon Bon Jovi.

Featuring radio-friendly AOR at its finest, the album is a pretty mixed bag. The songs for the most part are all good, some more memorable than others, with perhaps one or two particular standouts. There’s some fantastic interplay between guitarist Richie Sambora and keyboard player David Rashbaum, which certainly helps give the music its mainstream appeal, and Bon Jovi’s voice, not yet ravaged by time, sounds great!

And the songs I consider standouts? ‘Runaway’ and ‘Roulette’, in particular, are early classics from the band, with other notable songs including ‘Shot Through the Heart’, ‘She Don’t Know Me’, ‘Burning For Love’, ‘Breakout’ and ‘Love Lies’. These aren’t as polished as later hits, but considering this is an 80’s rock band making their debut, they’re showing a ton of potential early on in their careers.

And it’s potential that we know they’ll live up to! Of course, the New Jersey quintet will go on to become one of the biggest bands on the planet, and the seeds for what’s to come have certainly been planted here. While ‘Bon Jovi’ is far from their best work, it’s a solid debut, and well worth owning if you’re a fan.

9 days ago
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Report #885896

ENGINE Engine

Album · 1999 · Alternative Metal

Engine are an alternative metal supergroup, consisting of Ray Alder from Fates Warning, Joey Vera from Armored Saint (and also Fates Warning), as well as Bernie Versailles from Agent Steel, and Pete Parada, at the time in a band called Face to Face, but would eventually go on to drum for bands such as Halford and even The Offspring.

Released in 1999, ‘Engine’ is their self-titled debut album. Considering the progressive metal background of some of the musicians involved, it’s surprising that this is a very stripped down, laid back affair, focusing on a more groove metal sound that fits in with the nu metal-influenced scene at the turn of the century. I guess sometimes these guys just want something nice and easy to rock out to.

And rock out, they do! ‘Engine’ is brimming with plenty of heavy and grooving guitar riffs, Ray Alder’s fantastic vocals work great with this style of music, and the writing here is very polished. The band plays together very well, almost feeling like a “proper band” and not a “side project”.

Standout tracks from the record include ‘Tree of Life’, ‘Falling Star’, ‘Monster’, ‘Alone’ and ‘I Don’t Need’, but in all honesty, at barely 44 minutes in duration, this is a solid listen from start to finish. Engine might be a pretty obscure band for the casual metal listener, but if you’re a fan of any of the musicians involved, or like your metal simple, without endless noodling and complex melodies, then you can’t go wrong by giving this a go.

26 days ago
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Report #885524

METALLICA S&M2

Live album · 2020 · Symphonic Metal

Twenty years after the first ‘S&M’ concerts, and Metallica team up once more with the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra for a musical extravaganza, as metal meets classical in the ultimate musical collaboration.

Containing two CD’s and a DVD of the concert, ‘S&M2’ lives up to its predecessor, but is as different as it is similar. Besides advancements in technology allowing for much, much better sound and picture (on the DVD), the band have this time, taken the performance from a concert hall to a huge arena, and with thousands of Metallica fans in attendance, the audience participation really enhances the experience, especially on the ending of ‘The Memory Remains’.

The differences don’t stop there. What’s noticeable on the DVD, is that, unlike the first ‘S&M’, where Metallica were in their late 30’s, battling shifting musical trends, addictions, and personal strife, and “taking a risk” with the whole endeavour, this time the band are now all in their late 50’s. They’re sober, a cohesive unit, and they’ve done this before, and you can see how they seem so much more relaxed this time around. Conductor Edwin Outwater’s visual energy is infectious, and the orchestra musicians are no doubt, absolute professionals, but I can’t help but feel like the pep talk backstage was something like “hey, don’t worry, just have fun”.

If any risks are taken this time around, it’s the middle segment which sees the orchestra given time to shine. With classical pieces, a double bass tribute to Cliff Burton, as well as an orchestral version of ‘The Unforgiven III’, which sees James Hetfield go guitar-less. I don’t think this has happened since he burnt his arm in the early 90’s?

While sentimentality and nostalgia will always make me prefer the first ‘S&M’ over this one, the reality is that ‘S&M2’ is every part it’s equal. Featuring classics such as ‘One’, ‘Enter Sandman’ ‘For Whom the Bell Tolls’ and ‘Master of Puppets’, as well as newer songs, ‘The Day That Never Comes’, ‘Moth Into Flame’, and ‘Halo On Fire’ (which sounds incredible with the orchestra), the CD’s and DVD make for a fantastic audio and visual experience, and this is as essential a part of any Metallica collection as the first. Will the band still be around in their 70’s for part three? Let the waiting begin!

27 days ago
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Report #885517

Latest Forum Topic Posts

Posted more than 2 years ago in The Big 4 Debut Albums.
Yep, gotta go with Metallica on this one as well :D
Posted more than 2 years ago in My Facebook page :-)
Bit of a long shot, I know I don't really post in the forums and whenever I post reviews they probably piss people off , but whatever, I'm a struggling musician, this is my page. Please spare a like for me, it'd be hugely appreciated (and I'm happy to return the favor). http://www.facebook.com/martindavey87
Posted more than 2 years ago in Van Halen vs Bon Jovi
Bon Jovi.Always thought Van Halen were overrated.