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ROCK AND ROLL! => All Them Other Guys => Topic started by: Zzzptm on January 02, 2026, 01:29:49 PM
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So long, 2025, not a lot of great stuff released that year... but 2026! I think I might be going deaf on the 23rd -
(https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/817VbETzDJL._SX425_.jpg) (https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2873342111_16.jpg) (https://f4.bcbits.com/img/a2174120144_16.jpg)
Megadeth, Sky Valley Mistress, and The Stripp all drop new albums in 3 weeks, and I got them all pre-ordered. The Stripp just today announced their 2026 release and I'm liking their brand of action rock, sounds like the whole record will be a banger!
Here's to 2026, hope you make us spoiled for choice when we compile a top ten album list for this year!
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There's a new Macc Lads album out on 30th January, I think it's their first release in about 30 years!
Macc Lads - Wild Cider Wife
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Black Label Society's new album ENGINES OF DEMOLITION comes in March!!
And here's a KILLER new tune called NAME IN BLOOD!!
The album track listing is as follows:
01. Name In Blood
02. Gatherer Of Souls
03. The Hand Of Tomorrows Grave
04. Better Days & Wiser Times
05. Broken And Blind
06. The Gallows
07. Above & Below
08. Back To Me
09. Lord Humungus
10. Pedal To The Floor
11. Broken Pieces
12. The Stranger
13. Ozzy's Song
Also It's ZAKK's birthday to HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
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I see what looks like a nice shout-out to Ozzy in there! Happy b-day Zakk!
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Well the first new album of 2026 is ready for pickup tomorrow...
That ofcourse being
MEGADETH
And the second one is in the mail, that being SKY VALLEY MISTRESS!
Off to a good start!
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Yep - I just received an email stating my Megadeth pre-order has shipped and is en-route!
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Amazon are not what they used to be. I used to get stuff day of release or maybe the day after. I'm not getting the new Megadeth album until Monday!! >:(
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Musical Christmas is tomorrow morning! :smug:
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Ok, I might owe Amazon an apology... it's been despatched and is now turning up tomorrow!
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The Australian album just dropped! :D :headbanger:
Now playing: The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
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Current rankings:
1. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
No other album bought yet, so it's in number one now. :smug:
It's straight-up Motorhead-flavored rock and roll, plenty of action and drive. Singer/guitarist Bek Taylor can take her singing and strumming in directions either sweet or screaming, what every true rocker needs to be able to do. The rest of the band does solid work and the result is 34 mins of strong heavy rock that goes down smooth. Last track is the only one I didn't take to right away, but it'll likely grow on me. The energy in tracks like Gotta Go and MF From Hell more than make up for any shortcomings in that last track, The End, and the album as a whole sets a good bar for everything else in 2026. Will it be the best album this year? Given what lands tomorrow, I dare say not. But will it be the worst? Not at all. Sure, I got SVM and Megadeth arriving tomorrow, but The Stripp is one of those opening bands you book for the tour if and only if you're ready to give 100% so they don't blow you off the stage.
It's solid work, great rock, and that last song is making more sense as I listen to it again. Yeah, this one's a strong opener.
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Playing my Megadeth before I properly wake up, and going straight to "Ride the Lightning."
The opening is a bit slow or at least feels slower, but once it gets to the thrash part, it doth commence to thrash and lo, it thrasheth like unto the thrash of the mid-80s. I had to turn the volume down because I got kids still asleep and didn't want to necessarily wake them up. I'm considerate before 9am. Once I can play it full volume, I am sure it's gonna sound even better with the full bottom section coming through.
And now I'm sampling bits of Lunar Mausoleum, and "Live Past Life" is gonna rip my face off oh nooooooooooooooo
Today will be a loud, fun day. :rockon: :yes:
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First reactions to Luna Mausoleum by Sky Valley Mistress:
This album goes fast, slow, loud, quiet, and has a fantastic emotional and lyrical palette. I'm in the middle of "White Night" and I honestly don't know what direction the band is going to go but I trust them in a "Jesus take the wheel" kind of way. Kayley Davies has got all the guns and ammo, so I'll just get behind her and see what trail she blazes with all that firepower. Vocally overwhelming, this album. I am loving the variety and complexity and right now it's in the top slot, likely to stay in the top two for the year. It's a high water mark for sure. No shade on The Stripp, which I still plan to play more of, but the emotions in this album are palpable and excellent.
There are some great bangers on the album, but the quieter and slower stuff is so intense, it don't need to be all fast and loud.
1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
Rock-solid start to the year, and I got Megadeth next.
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The meeting got pushed so I got to play Megadeth by Megadeth all the way through. "The Last Note" has a poignancy I did not expect, and it's a great closing track for the album, if one considers "Ride the Lightning" a true bonus track. If not, then it's like someone says goodbye in "The Last Note"... before going to the electric chair in the next song! Ouch! And Metal as all get-out if that's the case! :)
Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth. I can't put it ahead of or behind SVM, so I have to make it a tie for first place:
1. Megadeth - Megadeth / Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum (tie)
2. TBD once I sort out the tie
3. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
I did find another album of instrumental metal that was pretty meh that I used as a palette cleanser. It was decent stuff, just not great. That made the other three albums shine more. I need to put the Megadeth and SVM albums into overtime until I figure out a winner...
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Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth.
This is true. It's almost like Dave took a piece of every part of Megadeth's history and put it on this album...there are songs that remind me of the early days, the 90s and the 00s...
This album sort of captures the essense of Megadeth.
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While I have my copy it arrived quite late last night, I probably won;t get to give it a listen until tomorrow as I'm busy today. Looking forward to hearing it though!
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Megadeth is a strong, strong album and I'm totally pleased with it and, frankly, surprised at its variance and depth.
This is true. It's almost like Dave took a piece of every part of Megadeth's history and put it on this album...there are songs that remind me of the early days, the 90s and the 00s...
This album sort of captures the essense of Megadeth.
The singles from the album that were pre-released gave no hint about the songwriting to come through on the other numbers on the album. "Essence of Megadeth" is the perfect three-word review.
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I'm pleased that you all have received your tunes...although mine shipped out the other day, it isn't slated to arrive until Monday. MONDAY. And with this multi-state winter storm in full effect, it won't surprise me if it got delayed until next Thursday or Friday. In fact, the delivery guy will probably steal it and I'll never get one. The damned thieving bastard. :)
I'm intentionally not looking for any of the songs online, I want to experience the joy fresh off of the vinyl.
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Good news is that they're good enough to make them worth the wait.
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I've now listened to Megadeth... and yeah, it's pretty good. I'll need to a few more listens to allow it to settle in... but it's already very promising.
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Stupid mail delivery man decided NOT to drop my package containing the new Sky Valley Mistress on my door step today.
Instead now I have to go pick it up from the post office tomorrow.
That lazy bugger. Sure he did manage to stuff all the other mail in the mailbox but didn't bother driving an extra 150 feet to bring the package...
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That lazy bugger. Sure he did manage to stuff all the other mail in the mailbox but didn't bother driving an extra 150 feet to bring the package...
I hate it when that happens!
Relatedly, my mail delivery person parked at the entrance to my driveway and trudged 425 feet, through nine inches of snow in order to hand deliver my mail today. Maybe your guy should call my guy for advice LOL.
Even more notably, Megadeth has arrived! Working through some tasks then going to listen to this thing...even the ordering of the songs and their titles bodes well for a great trip!
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So... Sky Valley Mistress...and Luna Mausoleum.
Solid effort again. Whole lot going on here. Very complex out of this rather young couple. This isn't your average doom rock album...gonna need a few listens this one before you can even get properly into it.
But so far I am enjoying it a lot. No Sleep is a monster of a tune. That riffing is brilliant and the vocals! Oh my!
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Well, if this is truly Megadeth's last album, it is an awesome capstone they created! My least favorite tune as it stands is Ride the Lightning, and it's good. It is one of my top Metallica songs, so after listening to it for the past 40 years or so Megadeth's by-the-numbers performance, while good, sounds like a cover band. It's difficult for me to remove Hetfield's voice and Burton's bass from it. The drumming on Megadeth's version is much better, though :)
But the others, hoo-boy. First-rate Megadeth from top to bottom.
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I have actually really liked Ride The Lightning. The heavier guitars work for me. And yes it's kind of odd to hear a Metallica song with good drumming! Part from the vocal melody (which isn't Dave-like at all) if you didn't know it wasn't a Megadeth tune, you'd think it was...
Now that I've lived with the album these past few days I can finally say something concrete.
Best tunes:
Tipping Point, Made To Kill, I Am War and The Last Note
Good tunes:
I Don't Care, Let There Be Shred, Obey The Call
Pretty good tunes:
Hey God, Puppet Parade (the vocal melody on this one is better than the music!)
The Not as good as the others tune:
Another Bad Day
Musically I'd say that's the weakest one...it sounds like it wouldn't be out of place on Super Collider. But it isn't a bad song all in all, just weaker in comparison.
There's a bit of every part of Megadeth's history included which is nice. Even though Dave said he only came to the conclusion this will be the last album after most of the songs were already done (only The Last Note was done after that decision) there is a feel that (subconsciously perhaps) Dave wanted to kind of sum things up here.
From what I've read online this divides the fan base a bit...some say it's their best one in a long time others say it's just a mediocre album...
For me neither one applies. It's a solid piece of Megadeth work. Something that is fitting for a final album. It captures the essence of Megadeth better than most of their albums do.
Solid candidate for album of the year title...but considering the sheer ammount of albums we've got coming this year....I wouldn't be surprised if something races past it fast.
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It will take me a few days to let the songs coalesce into something more definable. I'm still in the, "new record glow," phase. But I will say that I think the album overall is a better showing than a lot of their back catalog, but not all of it, and individual song shoot-outs would be tough to pin down. I don't think it is mediocre at all, and frankly I think some people get drawn into the mindset that if a record isn't the BEST EVER, then it is lukewarm at best and probably just sucks.
Of course, then comes the, "how do we define what 'best' means," spectre that's always looming over such things.
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I don't think it is mediocre at all, and frankly I think some people get drawn into the mindset that if a record isn't the BEST EVER, then it is lukewarm at best and probably just sucks.
That indeed is quite common these days...It either is GREATEST EVER or Not very good or bad or sucks ass.
People seem to have forgotten that albums CAN actually be very good solid albums without being the best ever.
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It's actually pretty tough to rank Megadeth vs Sky Valley Mistress...
Both very solid releases. Been listening to both a lot now.
I suppose they'll find their rankings later in the year...but right now I think they're tied for the first place.
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1970: "Oh wow man Deep Purple In Rock is their best album ever! All the other albums SUCK!" - if one's not a DP Mk1 fan, true enough.
1972: "Oh wow man Deep Purple's Machine Head is their best album ever! All the other albums SUCK!" - hang on, what about In Rock? That's still quite the solid offering, there.
1973: "Deep Purple Live in Japan is not quite as good as Machine Head so... IT SUCKS!" - hey wait hold on whoa you said *WHAT* about Live in Japan???
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It's actually pretty tough to rank Megadeth vs Sky Valley Mistress...
Both very solid releases. Been listening to both a lot now.
I suppose they'll find their rankings later in the year...but right now I think they're tied for the first place.
The fact that they go in differing directions, musically, only makes the comparison more difficult. If they were both thrash metal albums, we'd have more of an apples-to-apples comparison. "Tied for first" may be how we feel in December, given how strong both releases are, each in their own way.
I'm not skipping songs on either album and while there are songs on each album that are weaker relative to the other tracks, they are still very strong, overall. These champion albums are going into extra time and possibly penalty kicks!
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I'm not skipping songs...
This is always a good indicator of quality for me too. My wife is the kind of person that will listen to a record all the way through, even if she hates a song. Drives me nuts. I'm like, "change that nasty shit," and she always responds with something along the lines of, "oh just let it play." Nope. Can't do that.
The kicker here is that she won't spin vinyl, she listens to CDs, so she could simply press a button on the remote. But nooo. Our musical tastes intersect here and there, but just like she isn't down for something like Burzum, I'm not down with whatever pop-star de jour that caught her ear. And then when it is an actual bad song - not simply a difference in taste - and it happens to be some kind of super-extended-dance-remix-featuring-LeQuan-$$$Money...and it's twenty minutes long...Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!
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Back in my vinyl days, I specifically made tapes of records that left out tracks I wanted to skip and I played those instead of the vinyl for my uninterrupted listening convenience and pleasure. When I got a CD player, I learned how to program it to skip track 5 because that track sucked.
My wife likes to have YouTube Music play a mix for her when she's driving. When I'm in the passenger seat, I endure it. I am allowed to exert peremptory strikes, however, against the two songs that drive me totally up the wall of no return: "Evil Woman" by ELO and "Don't Bring Me Down", also by ELO. Fun fact: that last song is based on a Wilbert Harrison tune that a listener to my Saturday show likes to request. Drives me up the wall, but I play it because she pledges to support the show and my wife thinks it's hilarious that I have to endure it and I love it when she laughs.
Anyway, back to the YT Music... I *do* get to enrich her algorithm from time to time. When I mentioned Megadeth had a new album out, she let me request a track or two and that get her mix to have much more 80s metal in it. To be sure, it's the metal that YT Music's algo determines is safe enough to suggest, but I'll take more metal, especially after I've heard "Fernando" by ABBA for what feels like the gazillionth time. I don't hate it, but I don't love it, either.
Good news for me is that she doesn't like Cookie Monster metal, so we can both skip over that stuff, should it come up.
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My second purchase of the year turned up today.
The Damned - Not Like Everybody Else
A covers album comprising mostly 1960s material, some of which I know... and some I don't!
My third purchase of the year should arrive in the next few days probably by Momday...
The Macc Lads - Wild Cider Wife
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Just got a message from Devil Electric and they're gonna be releasing a new album soon as well!
So another banger to be expected!
EDIT
What the fuck?!?! DEEP PURPLE are gonna have an album out in June of this year as well!!
That came out of nowhere!
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I'm doing a try-before-I-buy with The Damned's latest... the covers are competently done, great musicianship, but I'm not getting anything from them that makes them really stand out from the originals other than, "here's The Damned doing that song." I'm thinking of passing on that platter.
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^^^
Yes, it's competently done, but there's nothing new here, they are just songs the late Brian James liked.
I'll give it another listen but really what I want is more of the stuff they've been doing over the last 25 years
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^^^
Yes, it's competently done, but there's nothing new here, they are just songs the late Brian James liked.
I'll give it another listen but really what I want is more of the stuff they've been doing over the last 25 years
Yes, there's more oomph in their own material, for sure. Doing an album of covers is a tricky matter if your band doesn't have a unique take on them.
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METAL CHURCH ANNOUNCE A NEW ALBUM called DEAD TO RIGHTS!
https://ratpakrecords.com/collections/metal-church
Goddamn the shipping costs though...30$ for a single cd! Damn!
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^^^
Will it not be released through the usual outlets?
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I do not know...
I have bought all of my MC albums straight from Rat Pack...I don't know if they have distributors in Europe...one would imagine that they do...
But I don't think I'll be paying extra 30$ shipping for autographs...
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I'm interested in new Metal Church, for sure!
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They do indeed have a EU shop
https://metalchurch.eu/products
26€ total Signed cd + postage. Works for me...Preorder done.
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https://valleyofthesun.bandcamp.com/album/the-chariot
This new release from Valley of the Sun is likely going to be the 4th album I buy this year. The opening track is plenty heavy and I'm pretty sure the rest of the album will be good stuff.
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I was listening to the SVM and Megadeth albums a lot and I've got my ranking, with justification.
Basically, SVM's album I play through and love it. Megadeth, I play through and love it until track 10, The Last Note, and then Ride the Lightning jars up the mix. That track belongs somewhere in the first five, not the album closer. Even if it's a "bonus track", fact is it comes up as 11/11 and it simply doesn't belong there. If I move it to the front and play things through after that, the album works much better. And since the competition between that album and the one from SVM was coming down to millimeters, a factor like that becomes a deciding criteria.
After those two, I feel like there's a slight gap to the one from The Stripp and then a much bigger gap to the Valley of the Sun album. I like VotS's release, but I think The Stripp did some masterful stuff with their release this year.
1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. Megadeth - Megadeth
3. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
4. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
I don't know if anything can get in between The Stripp and Megadeth, but there's a chance. I think there's plenty of room between VotS and The Stripp and expect possibly several releases to land in between the two.
I'm feeling like Sky Valley Mistress and Megadeth have 1-2 sewn up on my list. It would take a massive upset to unseat Megadeth and an astronomical alignment of chance to beat SVM.
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I typed that and just read that the Rolling Stones are planning an album release this year. So instead of putting Hackney Diamonds into the End of the Line list, I'll be likely slotting their latest into my list for 2026 albums. They'll have producer Andrew Watt again, so I expect they'll do quite well with the recording.
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Also coming out this year are releases from The Black Crowes (March 13), Armored Saint (April), Saxon (late, like Q3/Q4), Deep Purple (June), and Uriah Heep (September 14). That comes out to at least 10 albums I plan to get this year! :)
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This is one that is gonna take a crack at the top 3, I'm feeling. I just bought it and will spend 42:02 mins to give it a proper first listen right now.
The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
(https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/69/A_Pound_of_Feathers.jpg/250px-A_Pound_of_Feathers.jpg)
Given the tightness at the top, it's possible things could come down to overall mix of the tracks for getting a 1-2-3-4 placement. One misplaced track and it's a could-have-been instead of a look-a-there.
First track is a real banger, "Profane Prophecy" is straight-ahead hard rock with a great chorus, totally in the wheelhouse of the Brothers Robinson.
"Cruel Streak" comes next with a slower pace, but just as intense as the opener. Great grooves in this one and then that chorus clicks into action. Tasty!
"Pharmacy Chronicles" - slower, more acoustic, and I'm guessing from the title it's a sad story of drugs and broken hearts. The kind of song that Paul Rogers could totally pull off in his days at Free or Bad Company, which Chris Robinson is equally suited for. The best parts of ballads like these that The Black Crowes do is the way they write imaginative lyrics and don't play for sappiness. They like an acidic edge and that's what keeps their stuff listenable and likeable where others waste 4-5 mins with a tear-jerker. When you're totally into a song and not checking the time, it's a durable piece of work, for sure.
"Do the Parasite!" - the title is like whaaaaa??? but the opening riff is reassuring. Great four-stroke beat to it. Love the organ kick-in when we get to the chorus. Lyrics are strong, it's like they're the Steely Dan of Southern-fried hard rock. A banging track with great lyrics, love it.
"High & Lonesome" - jaunty acoustic opening informs me this might be an introspective tune. Has a music-theater feel to it, but gets sophisticated enough in the chorus to keep me interested. Second verse and second chorus and I'm wanting several more of these but wait, that's a guitar solo bridge. Not baaaad!
"Queen of the B-Sides" - and that last tune flows sweetly into this one, like a coda to the previous track. Also acoustic with steel guitar and piano slip notes that give it a touch of old-school country music. It totally all works together here. Only complaint is that it ends quickly, but that makes me want it more.
"It's Like That" - back to barn-burning bangers here with this track and I have to say the flow on the album has been exceptional thus far. Anyway, this track is a rock and roll gem and is every bit as rewarding as the others have been on this album. Great singalong chorus.
"Blood Red Regrets" - I expected an acoustic number with a title like that, but it's electric. Heavy rhythm and Chris Robinson successfully resists the urge to rap on the dope beat. :D Mellotron kicks in after a minute and you know this is a serious rock track. There's some complicated stuff going on here, and it's incredible. The textures on this album have been a delight, if they don't drop the ball on the last three, they can beat out Megadeth for second place. If the sum of the last three exceeds that of SVM's "Blue Desert II", they can take first. The bridge in this tune is incredible and that mellotron is used with professional accuracy and acumen.
"You Call This a Good Time?" - Mid-tempo rocker kicks off with lipstick all over the walls and some other morning-after realizations. This one is straight out of the Ian Hunter mid-70s playbook, sweet and strong.
"Eros Blues" - Slowed-down, it's Otis Redding with a hard rock guitar. Keyboard parts made me want to see if Booker T. was guesting on the album, that's how tasty they're playing. The rhythm guitar work is incredible here, chords driving the emotional depth of the tune.
"Doomsday Doggerel" - Doom-toned, I'm wondering where they're going with this piece. After a minute it comes together, so this might be one that has to grow on me. I don't dislike it, but... yeah, I can tell it'll grow on me. I can feel the roots in this, but they need time to bear fruit, I'm afraid.
The album as a whole works both a sipping album and as a collection of hard-driving road tunes. I liken it strongly to Sky Valley Mistress' release this year as one that works on multiple levels and, indeed, they dovetail nicely with each other if played back-to-back. Plays well cranked up to get to the next truck stop or at perfect volume for a laid back listen on an afternoon of dedicated listening.
However, the sudden ending on "Eros Blues" leaves me a bit nonplussed and the last track doesn't really fit as well into the rest of the mix. I was ready to declare a tie and a penalty kick round with this and Luna Mausoleum, but I think the kids from North England win this one in a thriller. The last track issues, however, aren't to the point where I want to call a re-ordering of the tracks or consider dropping it from a listen, like I felt with "Ride the Lightning" on Megadeth. I want to hear it again, and I want to have it at the end because I think there's something in it that isn't going to happen on the first listen.
I've started the second listen and am having a good time with it. I'll follow with Luna Mausoleum to see if that last track is actually written to lead into SVM's work. :D Putting it into second place feels right and no slight. It's mid-March and I've already got 4 excellent albums and one more pretty good one for the year.
1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
3. Megadeth - Megadeth
4. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
5. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
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Addendum - second time through on "Doomsday Doggerel", and it's working much better this time. Still keeping it in second place overall, but it's one great album, for sure.
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I am surprised that the Robinsons are still playing together, and somewhat surprised one of them isn't in prison for killing the other.
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I am surprised that the Robinsons are still playing together, and somewhat surprised one of them isn't in prison for killing the other.
See what happens when you use words instead of bazookas? :smug:
They did have a long time pass with their relationship on an inactive state before resolving to work out their differences and get the band back together.
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Having lived a while with all 3 albums I've gotten so far I'd say the listing goes:
1. Rob Zombie - The Great Satan (absolute banger this one!!)
2. Megadeth
3. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
I think it'll be a tall order for anyone to drop Zombie from the top....but there are some heavy hitters to come though so who knows.
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I'm checking out Black Label Society's Engines of Demolition, which came out on the 27th.
Zakk Wylde's singing is really close to Tony Reed, so that gives an overall Mos Generator feel to the vocals. It's a heavy record, for sure, but nothing is really standing out for me. Guitar playing is technically excellent, but I'm not getting *moved* by the work. I'm 7 tracks in and they've all been mid-tempo or slower... I really need a fast banger or two to keep me going with an album... track 9 of 13, "Lord Humungus" gets to some excitement, but that's a long, long wait to get my fix. "Pedal to the Floor" is more of what I want, along with "The Stranger" but, again, too little too late. It's not an album I plan to buy, but I might pick up those three tracks later on. I'm giving it a mid-tier grade because I know there's better out there... and a whole lot that's worse.
1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
3. Megadeth - Megadeth
4. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
5. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
6. Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition
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I haven't gotten Engine Of Demolition yet but the songs I have heard I have liked very much.
It is true that BLS has started going bit...I don't like to say soft, but less aggressive for sure and they have less super heavy and super fast songs that they used to...a trend that started with Shot To Hell...
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So, I'm checking up on the albums I'm looking out for this year and this is the latest news I have on them...
Metal Church - Dead to Rights (April 10)
Rolling Stones - announcement on 11 April? bit of a mystery and rumor mill here...
Armored Saint - Emotion Factory Reset (May 22)
Deep Purple - TBA (June)
Saxon -TBD (late, like Q3/Q4)
Thought Uriah Heep was having a new album, but it will actually be a boxed set of their releases 1975-1977. So no new album from the Heep this year. Alas!
Sooooo... 8 days to Metal Church! :headbanger:
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I got an email yesterday that my Metal Church album is on its way.
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I got an email yesterday that my Metal Church album is on its way.
I'll be giving it a digital listen in a week, I reckon. This is a strong year for good new music so far.
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Well after the first listen through of Dead To Rights I have to say I like it. Right away is captures me more than Congregation ever did.
The title track is an absolute monster! Love that one! Heaven Knows (Slip Away) and Wasted Time are others that stand out.
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I'll be picking up that Metal Church release. And I agree with Z's assessment that this a strong year for music so far.
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I gotta drive around a bunch today, Metal Church will be the soundtrack for the errantry of the day.
First track a total banger, this is gonna be a fun ride. The singer is perfect for the band and the guitar work is clean, the top of my list is going to be all the more crowded now...
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I pulled into the home driveway just as the last song finished.
:smug:
Strong album throughout, I enjoyed the final song the most as it had some nice variety to it that made it stand out as an excellent closer. I wouldn't rearrange anything on the album, so it's fine with the mix.
I'll need to listen to it and the others before I can place it. Not an easy decision, because it's such a good one.
Also, Rolling Stones announced their new album Foreign Tongues and it will release in July. Looking forward to that.
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The Metal Church CD arrived today...
I have also ordered the new Yes album Aurora, dropping in June.
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1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
3. Megadeth - Megadeth
4. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
5. Metal Church - Dead to Rights
6. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
7. Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition
I like the Megadeth and The Stripp albums by degrees more than I like the Metal Church album. It's a strong contender, but this year is just packed with talent. With 4 more albums I'm looking forward to this year, I imagine Black Label Society drops off unless one of those four is unlistenable.
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I think I'll put the new Metal Church above Sky Valley Mistress but below Megadeth.
1. Rob Zombie - The Great Satan (absolute banger this one!!)
2. Megadeth
4. Metal Church - Dead To Rights
3. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
But the list is subject to change when each album has more time to sink in.
Albums I need to get
BLS
Devil Electric - Thalia (CD version as I only got the liquid vinyl that I can't play!)
Kreator - Krushers Of The World (I've been listening to some songs on youtube and I really need to get into this band!)
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Kreator is a top tier thrash metal band and almost all of their albums are killer 🔥 👌
Definitely get into them you will be pleasantly surprised
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Yeah I will be checking more of their stuff out...Again I don't know why but for some reason I always thought of Kreator to be on the extreme Thrash side not on the more traditional side.
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I haven't heard anything by Kreator since the 1980s, will have to look them up. Not sure why they dropped off my radar way back when.
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Not being released this year, but Bruce Dickenson has recorded the songs for his next album (no name yet) but next year is a Iron Maiden off year so he's getting prepared!
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Frankly the previous one was very underwhelming so I'm not really looking forward to another Dickinson album to be honest.
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I didn't mind The Mandrake thingy! But it was no Chemical Wedding.
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I didn't mind The Mandrake thingy! But it was no Chemical Wedding.
Nothing is! ;D
It is his only really good solo album.
I think I need to listen to Mandrake again...only went through it once on youtube when it came out.
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Is the new Deep Purple album "Splat!" coming out 3rd July, news to people? Apparently it will be their heaviest in some time.
Can't say I'm a fan of their album titles!
Track listing:
Arrogant Boy
Diablo
The Rider
The Lunatic
The Only Horse In Town
Sacred Land
The Beating Of Wings
Guilt Trippin'
Scriblin' Gib'rish
Jessica's Bra
Third Call
My New Movie
Splat!
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I am eagerly waiting for that one!!
By the way the date of my DEEP PURPLE show is coming up fast... June 11th! Maybe they'll premiere a new song!
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July 3rd works for me. Stones album comes out on the 10th of July, also ready for that release.
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Just found out an electronica group I enjoy, Midival Punditz, released a new album, Love & Machines, on 10 April. I'm going to get that and figure out how to rank it against the other choices I have to rank it against. The single, "Jogi", is great stuff.
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1. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
3. Megadeth - Megadeth
4. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
5. Metal Church - Dead to Rights
6. Love and Machines - Midival Punditz
7. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
8. Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition
I like the Midival Punditz' album, but it's very laid-back. I can play it all the way through and enjoy it, but it's more ambient than something I'm actively listening to for most of the tracks.
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Sadly the new SAXON album won't be coming out until January of next year but we will be getting the first taste in September!
https://blabbermouth.net/news/biff-byford-reveals-release-date-for-new-saxon-album-first-single-to-arrive-in-september-2026
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Ah, well, just means 2027 will be a good year with a Saxon album to start us off with!
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NEW ANTHRAX song is up!!!
IT's FOR THE KIDS!!
I'm getting a strong 80s flashback out of this one!
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I totally love how the moshers move like the D.R.I. stick figure in the slow parts. Don't know if that was intentional, but it's way cool. And that track is a banger.
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Decided to spin all the 2026 albums I have so far. The Metal Church pairs well with the Megadeth. :)
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I looked through this thread and didn't see Corrosion Of Conformity new album from this year
It's called Good God Baad Man and I recommend it 👌 I think that most here will like it
Filled with great riffs
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I've listened to some of CoC but have never been overly impressed by Pepper's vocals, but he's riffing has always been great, more so in Down I'd say. But I will check some new CoC out as I did not know they had a new album out.
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So KREATOR!
Holy moses!
That's a killer record of killer old school thrash! And they're still keeping it heavy in a good way!
This album is gonna rocket to the top 3 I think!
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Got DP's SPLAT! playing now, up to track 3, my first exposure to "The Rider", and it's a great tune. The disc is feeling like Purpendicular with the first three tunes plus Guilt Trippin', which comes up in 5 more tunes.
The first two tracks - Arrogant Boy and Diablo - we already know. But the Purpendicular vibe totally kicks in with The Rider and I love that. McBride's guitar style can go where both Blackmore and Morse went, so he can bring out some great moments with the band. I noticed that the style with this album is to end the song when it ends, but none too suddenly.
As I typed, "The Lunatic" started and this one feels like it came from Perfect Strangers. Wow. So, yeah, that thing I said about McBride having a fluid style that covers lots of ground, well, here you are. And it still fits in the album's vibe. =1 was a strong offering, but SPLAT! is a stronger one. It's going to get very much more crowded at the top of my list and I have some happy listening ahead of me. DP could take the top spot, I think, if they keep this vibe going for the rest of the album.
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Taking a break for supper now, but this is a very strong album, indeed, with only 4 tracks to go.
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Just finished it, I feel like it might be every bit as good as Purpendicular. It's certainly in the same league, like Whooosh! was. The songwriting's gelled nicely and there's tremendous wit and good humor in the lyrics. It might be my top pick for the year, but I'll have to have it go head-to-head with the other albums to see where it stacks up.
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I did not get my copy yet!
But based on the tracking it should arrive on monday!
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I did not get my copy yet!
But based on the tracking it should arrive on monday!
Once you get it, you might want to take the day off so you can complete your necessary musical researchings. :smug:
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Well I have a haircut on Monday but after that I have nothing planned (and since I'm not Vyn I don't need to worry about the haircutter lady hitting on me) so it'll be DEEP PURPLE all night long after that!
Finally got around to listening to the new BLACK LABEL SOCIETY album Engines Of Demolition.
Bit mixed feelings...I won't be as harsh as ZZ on this but it's far from their best work. But Zakk still delivers strong riffs and blistering solos...it's the vocal melodies he's struggling a bit. When he kept them more simple was when he was at his finest.
I think it's worse than the previous two but better than Catacombs...
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Well with two new additions the list looks something like this:
1. Rob Zombie - The Great Satan (absolute banger this one!!)
2. Megadeth
3. Kreator - Krushers Of The World (Surprised by this one, killer old school thrash metal! Need to get more into this band for sure! And they also have a Finnish guitarist!!)
4. Metal Church - Dead To Rights
5. Black Label Society - Engines Of Demolition
6. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
I don't know if I can rank the new old Savatage live album into this, if so it would most likely be at number one, having heard that show as a bootleg many many times...the cd version will arrive to me in a week or so hopefully so I can listen to it.
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1. Deep Purple - SPLAT! or Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
2.
3. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
4. Megadeth - Megadeth
5. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
6. Metal Church - Dead to Rights
7. Love and Machines - Midival Punditz
8. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
9. Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition
I am going to get the new DP sorted today. I'm playing SPLAT!, then Luna Mausoleum, then Purpendicular. I need to put it next to those other two to find its place in what I like this year and how it stacks up to one of the greats of the modern DP catalogue. Heck, I'm adding Machine Head as well, to compare Mr. Gillan's voice today with what he was doing in late '71, 55 years ago. Yeah, wrapping my head around that. Comparing 80 to 26.
But I do know that SPLAT! I was able to listen to without any flinching or questioning and it grabbed my attention in a powerful way. It's better than the Black Crowes' album, and that is very clear for me to see. Not that there's such a gap, just that Deep Purple were able to turn in a seamless performance. The only other album I'd describe that way so far this year is Sky Valley Mistress' offering.
And I need to get this matter sorted before the Rolling Stones release their latest this Friday. I am very much looking forward to see how the Mick Jagger at 82 compares to Ian Gillan at 80.
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After MUCH listening of the two albums over and over and over again, I'm giving the top spot to Deep Purple. It's got an edge in being listenable all the way through in a variety of moods, while SVM's album tends towards a more singular sort of experience. But it's a matter of millimeters between the two. I don't think anything can slip in that gap. All other albums this year will either be better than them both or not match either. With The Black Crowes in an extremely close 3rd place now, my top three may be set. We'll see how good the Rolling Stones are come Friday.
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One of the quartet of women buzzing around informed me the other day that I'll be going to see the Black Crowes in concert in a month or two (I don't recall the exact date, other than it's not soon) with her. I guess I'd better listen to their new album!
I am woefully behind on the new stuff that's been coming out. Other than a few YouTube videos, I haven't listened to any of it.
The Deep Purple tunes I've heard are excellent - so after the Robinson brother's latest effort, I think I'll go that route.
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The Black Crowes are in good form. Their latest left me wondering at first with the last 2 tracks, but they grew on me. It's a solid disc with some great rockers on it. The Deep Purple album is definitely in the same area of greatness as Purpendicular. Amazing what they're doing around 78-80 years old.
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Oh hell yeah SPLAT!
Already after just first listen I can say this is a GREAT one! Seems pretty certain this will rocket itself right on top of the list! But I'll give it few more listens to be sure!
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Oh hell yeah SPLAT!
Already after just first listen I can say this is a GREAT one! Seems pretty certain this will rocket itself right on top of the list! But I'll give it few more listens to be sure!
Yeah, I'm exceptionally pleased with my investments in Purple this year. :smug:
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Some new ANTHRAX popped up on my youtube list today!!
Bit more proggy thrash this one than It's For The Kids but I'm digging it!
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Playing "Beautiful Delilah" from the Stones' latest. Since it's a Chuck Berry tune, I'll play this tomorrow for my Rock and Roll Football bit. I feel like I'm really going to enjoy Foreign Tongues.
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I am going to have to give the Stones's new one a spin, it seems. I enjoyed Cockney Diamonds, even bought the thing. First Rolling Stones album I bought since Tattoo You!
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Haven't had time to listen to the Rolling Stones's new one yet, but I did hear Mr. Charm on the radio this evening while out driving. I really like that tune - it's almost creepy, and harkens back to Some Girls. Those guys and Deep Purple showing everyone that age is just a number.
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Doing a proper sit-down listen before I have to be in work meetings for 4 hours straight. :D
Like Hackney Diamonds went head-to-head with The Black Crowes' Happiness Bastards, this one matches closely to A Pound of Feathers, this year's offering from the Crowes. I think I gave the advantage to the Robinsons in the last meeting, but it's all to play for in this meeting.
Jagger, like Gillan, sounds clean. Not just good technique, but great feeling in the vocals. There's cleverness, variety, wit, charm, projection, it's all there. Guitar work from Messers. Richards and Wood is on-point. Right now, I've got "Jealous Lover" playing and the falsetto from Jagger is so fun to listen to. I enjoy the 70s soul sound, so the borrowings here totally work for me.
The first two tracks, "Rough and Twisted" and "In the Stars" were fun tracks, good blues on the first. Now I'm on "Mr. Charm" and this one's got a helluva hook to it. This will get stuck in my head. It rocks hard and, again, makes me think of The Black Crowes. To be fair, listening to the Crowes makes me think of the Stones, so this is a continuous loop kind of thing. Anyway, the verbal dexterity on this track is top-shelf stuff. That backup singer is Merry Clayton good.
"Divine Intervention" uses a guitar riff that feels Knopfler-y that drives it along. Lyrics are giving me some good chuckles, entertainment value on this track for sure. I already know I like the Chuck Berry cover at the end, so one more track and I've recovered at least 50% of my initial investment value.
"Ringing Hollow" gets into a country mode, a 1970s Outlaw Country mode, to be exact. Man I love this one. Only a minute in, and I love it.
"Never Wanna Lose You" has a DISCO beat to it whaaaaaaaaaa??? Oh wow the variety on this album is amazing. On top of that disco beat is something of a goth energy and then there's a choir and forget trying to pin this one down. Describing it makes it sound like something that shouldn't work, but when I hear it, it works quite well, overall. The choruses not as much as the verses and bridge, but I'm not complaining.
"Hit Me in the Head" opens fire with some strong rock, like an MC5 track. Hold on, I was thinking of Black Crowes earlier and now it's Wayne Kramer's old band? Totally kickass, dude.
"You Know I'm No Good" ah... this is one that has potential to grow on me because I'm not liking it as much as the others on a first listen. It's got a blues hard times ballad formula to it that I'm just not a fan of in general. I'm OK with it when it's Cab Calloway's "Minnie the Moocher" and a smattering of other tunes, but you have to win me over when you go this musical route. Good harmonica work on it, though.
"Some of Us" A song for Mr. Richards to sing on. It's a tender tune, back towards the country side of things, and, once again, it works.
"Covered in You" Opens like a ballad, but gets sharp and hard on the verses. It's like broken glass pointing up through silk, emotionally.
"Side Effects" Musically, this one feels like a progressive variation on the previous tune. But it's not, so it's two 4:30 songs instead of one big 9:00 track. Makes it all more digestible that way. Why is it when Jagger sings the word "cigarettes" it just *makes* the song?
"Back in Your Life" The song to play for last call and last dance. Nice and slow, early 70s British rock style, something off a Free album. Drive home safely, kids.
"Beautiful Delilah" The Stones had this song in their live repertoire since they started. On this album, they lay down a semi-acoustic version that has a mean, MEAN steel guitar with well-placed slide effects. It's every bit as enjoyable as the original, hats off to Chuck Berry.
I'll need to play this against The Black Crowes' album on repeat to figure out which one hits me better. If the Crowes beat it, then it's got a faceoff with Megadeth, but I don't see it going lower than 5th place on my list. It's going to be somewhere in the 3-5 area.
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I'm leaning towards liking A Pound of Feathers just a bit more, but that may be because I'm playing it last in the comparison. I'll do it again playing Crowes, then Stones, then Megadeth as a musical palette cleanser. Also because that album rocks. :smug:
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Two days ago I ordered the vinyl version of Foreign Tongues. From the Rolling Stones' official shop. Their website said it would ship August 3rd. I am in no hurry.
I received an email from FedEx earlier saying I have a package being delivered today - from the Rolling Stones. We'll see!
Relatedly, they are a marketing behemoth - they have a variation of the vinyl version for just about any taste. A variety of comic book superheroes, a bunch of world cup versions, nascar versions...good lord lol.
Update: and yep, it arrived! Looks like I picked the "World Cup Winner's Circle" edition. All I know is that I picked the one with the cover I liked the most.
No music thoughts yet, just slapped on disk one, but I can say that the production is top-notch, so is the pressing.
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1. Deep Purple - SPLAT!
2. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
3. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
4. Megadeth - Megadeth
5. The Rolling Stones - Foreign Tongues
6. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
7. Metal Church - Dead to Rights
8. Love and Machines - Midival Punditz
9. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
10. Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition
Stones in at 5th. The clincher was listening to what I consider my favorite track, "Hit Me in the Head" and thinking it should have gone directly to the Chuck Berry tune, album done. I didn't want to rearrange A Pound of Feathers and I had just a wee tweak to Megadeth. And once I put on the Megadeth, I knew that was the right ordering. The Stripp still has an amazing album, as does Metal Church, so no shade on them to scoot down a seat to make room for the Stones.
The Black Crowes made a more cohesive album. It has similar switching between styles and strong rockers like the Stones had, but I think they knew when to pull back and take a bow. Megadeth didn't switch around with styles, but stayed consistent with the metal throughout - it just needs Ride the Lightning to be off to the side, not part of the main flow.
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Yeah...gotta put SPLAT up there for sure!
1. Deep Purple - SPLAT!
2. Rob Zombie - The Great Satan (absolute banger this one!!)
3. Megadeth
4. Kreator - Krushers Of The World (Surprised by this one, killer old school thrash metal! Need to get more into this band for sure! And they also have a Finnish guitarist!!)
5. Metal Church - Dead To Rights
6. Black Label Society - Engines Of Demolition
7. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
I'm gonna think a bit about the Savatage Live album...if I'll be counting that one then it would be on top of the list. We shall see.
And knowing that Anthrax is yet to come....goddamn. This is gonna be a strong year for music.
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Wait - did you say there's a Finnish guitarist in a metal band? How can such a thing be? I've never heard of strangeness like that! :D
For Savatage - to your own heart be true. It's an official release and not a re-release or boxed set. Therefore, it's new to 2026, regardless of its bootleg status. Get it on the list and then we'll all have to brace ourselves for the incoming Anthrax!
Loving 2026 in music so far!
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Lets see how many albums we're gonna be getting this year that are good enough for a top 10 list.
If there's less than 10 I'll add the Savatage live album, if more then I won't.
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Planned releases I see reported on the Wiki page for 2026 albums include:
Tony Iommi
Anthrax
Saxon nope that's 2027
I missed the Armored Saint release - I was having some health issues at the time, likely what messed me up. But I gots to go an check it out, BRB...
OH HELL YEAH THIS ONE'S STARTING OFF STROOOOOOOOOOOOONGGGGGGG :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger: :headbanger:
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Armored Saint - Emotion Factory Reset
1. Close to the Bone - absolute banger
2. Every Man-Any Man - total banger
3. Not on Your Life - total ripper
4. Hit a Moonshot - absolute ripper
5. Buckeye - slow-cookin' ripper
6. Compromise - ripping banger
7. It's a Buzzkill - ripping slow-cooker
8. Throwing Caution to the Wind - banging ripper
9. Ladders and Slides - slow-cookin' banger
10. Bottom Feeder - banging slow-cooker
11. Epilogue - absolute total ripping banger
OK, hype aside, the last track is the gem of the album. Loved it. It opens strong, I think it loses some steam at tracks 9-10, but finishes beautifully. There is *not* a variety of styles on this album, it is loud and proud and metal all the way through. I may need to have repeat listens to get into the slower tracks before it wraps up, and I'll have those listens as I compare it to The Stripp and Metal Church. I think The Stripp will beat it and the real fight will be with Metal Church for that 7-8 spot.
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1. Deep Purple - SPLAT!
2. Sky Valley Mistress - Luna Mausoleum
3. The Black Crowes - A Pound of Feathers
4. Megadeth - Megadeth
5. The Rolling Stones - Foreign Tongues
6. The Stripp - Life Imitates Art
7. Metal Church - Dead to Rights
8. Armored Saint - Emotion Factory Reset
9. Love and Machines - Midival Punditz
10. Valley of the Sun - The Chariot
11. Black Label Society - Engines of Demolition
That is a tight crowd at the top. I think the Metal Church album is better than the Armored Saint one, but it was *so close* to pick one over the other. This is a great year for albums, no question about it.
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I just ordered the new Metal Church Dead To Rights from Amazon and it was under 15 dollars
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I finished up a few spins of the Stones' latest, and am impressed. It's a legit good record. I am pleasantly surprised at the last few releases from that venerable band, a set of some of their best work in decades.
That is such a far-out thing to say in regards to a rock band named The Rolling Stones. By all accounts they should have wrapped it up prior to Black and Blue, but they've managed to hang tough through the years, even scoring some success during the disco years. I recall when they were coming out with Steel Wheels, and all the hype surrounding it. I did not like it much at all, and from then on I have not been interested in anything they released. It wasn't until Blue and Lonesome that I revisited them, and I enjoyed the covers they did. Not a stellar release, but fun and true to their roots. Hackney Diamonds was a complete surprise to me, it was so good. And this one is too.
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I just ordered the new Metal Church Dead To Rights from Amazon and it was under 15 dollars
Now that's a great deal! And It's a good album too!
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I just ordered the new Metal Church Dead To Rights from Amazon and it was under 15 dollars
Now that's a great deal! And It's a good album too!
Seconding the gentleman from Finland! It's some excellent metal. It pairs very well with the Armored Saint release from this year. Megadeth's release was strong and Anthrax looks to drop a banger - 80s metal is alive and well and sounding GREAT!
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I finished up a few spins of the Stones' latest, and am impressed. It's a legit good record. I am pleasantly surprised at the last few releases from that venerable band, a set of some of their best work in decades.
That is such a far-out thing to say in regards to a rock band named The Rolling Stones. By all accounts they should have wrapped it up prior to Black and Blue, but they've managed to hang tough through the years, even scoring some success during the disco years. I recall when they were coming out with Steel Wheels, and all the hype surrounding it. I did not like it much at all, and from then on I have not been interested in anything they released. It wasn't until Blue and Lonesome that I revisited them, and I enjoyed the covers they did. Not a stellar release, but fun and true to their roots. Hackney Diamonds was a complete surprise to me, it was so good. And this one is too.
My mom has been of the firm opinion that the Stones have been dead from the neck up since 1967. But playing the last cuts on both Hackney Diamonds and Foreign Tongues got her to allow that maybe, just *maybe* they got a little bit good again.
My view is that the Stones did have a creative change in direction after Brian Jones left the band and died, but they did some good stuff in the 70s. I'm not a fan of most of their stuff in the 80s, 90s, and they faded from view in the 00s and 10s. But in the 2020s, they are showing real strength. They've been around 60+ years as a band and their only real personnel issues were with the 2nd guitarist until they locked in on Ronnie Wood and then their rhythm section aging out. Jagger and Richards have managed to keep things together and it's clear in the music that they are genuinely still having a great time.
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Deaf Radio, a band I enjoy following, has a new album "Shelter" coming out on 4 September. The lead tracks from it are pretty good. I'll likely get it because they make good records, but I'm not expecting it to rank above Armored Saint's offering. Iommi and Anthrax have much better shots at cracking the top 10 ranks.
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My workout music for this week has been the new KREATOR album and the more I listen to it the more I like it!
So much so that I might have to revise my list ranking for it soon...it might overtake Megadeth! :twitch: :excited: :zomg:
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I played back all my top ranked records and I find that I like listening to the lower ranks, but the higher the ranking, the more I'm singing along with the tracks. That's my standard, going forward, am I singing along or not. Even on first listens, a good hook can rule. Case in point are Deep Purple's "My New Movie" and the Stones' "Hit Me in the Head".