MARK REALE

I wanted to write some words for Mark, who left so unexpectedly, at least for the majority of fans who were not aware of his lifelong struggle with his health problems. There were only few people like Mark. People who have the gift to create great music, who keep going on inspite of never gaining the recognition deserved and most of all people who don't act like rock stars despite the countless years spent on the road playing music in front of thousands. Mark, if you had the chance to watch him play live, was a musician who enjoyed his music to the maximum and transferred this emotion to his fans.



Have you ever tried to count how many metal anthems Mark wrote? I'll only remind you of a few, because otherwise this page couldn't possibly load!

Outlaw:


You burn in me:


Fight or fall:


Storming the gates of hell:


Should I run:


What's sad to me, is the fact that Mark left just at the time when he could enjoy some well earned praise and recognition with the reunited line up of Riot's ''Thundersteel'' era. Unfortunately he had no more strength left in him to participate in one of the most highly expected albums of the last years, and he passed away just a short time after its release. I'd like to see him one more time playing his music for his fans who loved him so much. If I believed in God I would ask him to rest Mark's weary soul. He will never be forgotten while some ''stars'' will fade into oblivion.

ATTICK DEMONS

In case you feel bored by the last efforts of Iron Maiden, if you can trace no spark in their songs and get lost in their attempt to get progier, more epic or whatever they are trying to do (and failing bigtime I might add), then Attick Demons from Portugal is your solution. Very much like the first couple of albums by Machine Men, Attick Demons are HEAVILY influenced by Iron Maiden and Bruce Dickinson. In fact, if Iron Maiden loosened up a little and went for the kind of catchy songs they did in the 80's, this is what we would get: a bunch of great sing along songs in the tradition of classic 80's heavy metal with the sound of today. One might say Attick Demons are just copycats, but to me approaching a great band with love and conviction is always respectful. If only we had such ''copycats'' for every great 80's metal band...

Before you bash the band for being too retro I have to make something clear: This band obviously loves Iron Maiden and 80's metal, but they don't go for a 100% retro 80's metal sound in the vein of Enforcer, White Wizzard etc.. That's were bands like Edguy come in, more in terms of sound and approach towards the past. Singer Artur Almeida on the other hand is obsessed with Bruce Dickinson, you could swear this is a side project of Maiden's frontman. He sounds exactly like Bruce does since his triumphant return to heavy metal. I've mentioned earlier that Attick Demons have catchy songs. Well, they don't just write catchy stuff, it's also very strong too. Picking highlights from the album can get very tricky, because the band wisely put only 9 songs on their album and they are all awesome! There's lots of enjoyable guitarwork going on and more than memorable melodies.

In conclusion, the guys got themselves a new fan. This is a cd I will go out and buy and in case they show up near distance I will be in the front row. Up the Irons! Up the Attick Demons!





http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gLEgrJhg3GM&feature=related

Pastore- The Price for the Human Sins (private 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cGEHpFGi2vY

This one came crushing through my stereo and got me down on my knees begging for mercy. Very much like fellow countrymen Painside this is extremely Priest influenced metal. Pastore are only more aggressive, not in a bad sense though. There’s definitely melody here but power is the most significant factor. Mario Pastore is a veteran of the Brazilian metal scene and it’s a shame I’ve never heard of him before, since he is a master of the metal scream. It’s also a shame Pastore is releasing this as a private and judging from the lack of reviews on the net the album hasn’t reached many people. Songs like Far away, Horizons are top class. On the later Mario takes a rest from his metal screams and delivers a beautiful semi-ballad beginning with acoustic guitars end ending with fantastic solos by Rafael Gaza who proves himself a worthy addition to the lineup. Get the album on the net, give it a chance and I’m sure you will give Pastore the support they need cause they deserve it.

Painside- Dark world burden (2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dE-coKO2eMs&feature=related

These Brazilians can really make a good name. Their debut ‘’Dark world burden’’ is a modern heavy/power metal album that combines European and US metal. Think of Judas Priest’s ‘’Painkiller’’, think of Cage but with a better balance between melody and power and you got the picture more or less. The great advantage of Painside is their fantastic singer Guilherme Sevens, who possesses a set of impressive pipes and belts out high pitched screams in a very persuasive way, without sounding gay. He’s more in the style of singers like Ralf Sheepers or Rob Rock I think, you know, wide ranged but with a raspy tone. There’s some great riffing throughout the album and ass kicking up tempo songs like Ignite the fire, Deviant will make you bang your head for good, while in tracks like This dark world and Forsaken the band proves itself worthy of mid tempo anthemic songs too. I can’t find any real flaw to this album, even the production is clear, tight and powerful transferring the bands full power to our starving-for-good-metal ears.

JAMES BYRD- Jane

Just felt like posting a great instrumental track by James Byrd. It can be found on the 1998 album ''Crimes of virtuosity'', which you should at one point add to your collection if you like good hard rock/metal, great guitars and great vocals courtesy of the terrific Kendall Torrey.



Check Torrey's vocals here:

WAXWING- Appetizer (1988)

Waxwing is one of those obscure 80's metal bands that never made it to the big league. Though their power metal was top class, with intense riffing, soaringvocals and fantastic songs, they disbanded leaving behind this ep only.
You can read their entire history and download the ep for free (available by the band) here:
http://www.waxwing.bz/

Check some stuff here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x25j0vUiYtI
and here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-FnIl7c89I