Sunday, March 1, 2015

Blind Guardian - Beyond The Red Mirror

Band:Blind Guardian

 

Album:Beyond The Red Mirror

 

Date Released:Jan 30 2015

 

Tracks:

The Ninth Wave
Twilight Of The Gods
Prophecies
At The Edge Of Time
Ashes Of Eternity
The Holy Grail
The Throne
Sacred Mind
Miracle Machine
Grand Parade

 

Band Members:


Hansi Kürsch
André Olbrich
Marcus Siepen
Frederik Ehmke
Barend Courbois 

 

Formed:Mid 80's


Genre:Prog/Power Metal/Symphonic Metal

 

Label:Nuclear Blast

 

Quality & Originality:Blind Guardian has really put some serious time and effort keeping up there signature sound and song writing on ''Beyond The Red Mirror''. Hansi Kürsch & André Olbrich wrote a huge chunk of this release with Hansi Kürsch writing the lyrics. For this sound to reach the heights that it has on this album the band had Hungarian Studio Orchestra Budapest, FILMharmonic Orchestra Prague, Hungarian Studio Choir Budapest, FILMharmonic Choir Prague and Vox Futura Choir Boston all help get the magic of the backing vocals and amazing orchestra that is rich and damn vibrant. This is kinda a part two or a continuation of ''Imaginations from the other side'' released in 1995. Blind Guardian really did put one of there most significant albums to date with the sound, production and song writing as strong if not stronger then anything they have done to date!!!!!

 

My Opinion:This is the German metal mad men's tenth studio album. This is also the longest in between albums I can remember from Blind Guardian. It is no surprise they have flown to the top of there genre with great releases one right after another all resulting in a powerful presence. I think BTRM is or at least should be considered one of the best if not the best release the band has done to date with impressive production and song writing. Hansi never does a bad job with his returning magical voice that can do the roughest to the silky smooth all in the same second. This really is the best album that has come across my desk this year. I do not care if you are a Prog/Power fan or not you will rock this album out at a volume not meant for mortals ears!!!!

 

Overall & Favorites:The Ninth Wave, The Holy Grail, The Throne. The Red Mirror rocked my socks off to the tune of a 9.9/10 on such a brilliant freaking album!!!!!!

 

Contact:http://www.blind-guardian.com/

 

 

ISSA - Crossfire

Band:Issa

 

Album:Crossfire

 

Date Released:Feb 20 2015

 

Tracks:

Crossfire
New Horizon
Raintown
Long Time Coming
Fight Fire With Rain
Heartbeat
Electric Lights
Ghost Inside My Heart
Red Lights
We Rise
Only You

 

Band Members:

Issa - vocals and bv's
James Martin – Keyboards
Tom Martin - bass and Guitars
Michael Cruise – Drums

Steve Overland – Duet on Raintown 

 

Label:Frontiers Music Srl

 

Quality & Originality:Issa and her velvet sweet voice is back with her new album entitled Crossfire. The Norwegian beauty has taken her brilliant style of almost pop rock mixed with AOR and prog to a grand new level of a beautiful arrangements and melodies. The album was produced by John Greatwood & James Martin. Sessions started in early 2013 with a bunch of songs ISSA had co-written or demoed in the Martin Brothers songwriting sessions. Guest musicians include Daniel Palmqvist (XORIGIN), Alessandro Del Vecchio (HARDLINE), Steve Newman (NEWMAN), Robert Sall (WORK OF ART), Daniel Johansson (DEGREED), Stephen Chesney. As well as powerhouse choir including Pete Newdeck (IN FAITH/TAINTED NATION), Matt Black (FAHRAN) and Michael Kew (VEGA).

 

My Opinion:Issa has always been a hard artist to nail down for me cause she could have easily went for the full on pop road cause of her amazing voice but she stays just on this side of the rock road to blend into almost any style or genre she damn well pleases. ''Crossfire'' is easily my favorite album of this gifted singer cause she seems to have matured a bit in her singing and song writing giving just enough to melt any metal heads heart and soul. The duet Issa does with Steve Overland on the song ''Raintown'' is beautifully executed and performed almost taking a different approach then the rest of the songs on the album. If you are into pop to metal or prog to symphonic this is a great album that will satisfy your appetite for something pretty special.

 

Overall & Favorites:Raintown, Crossfire, Fight Fire With Rain. I give this beautifully talented singer a brilliant 8/10 for making another spectacular album!!!!

 

Contact:www.facebook.com/issa.oversveen

 

December Band Spotlight M.I.C

              January Band Spotlight M.I.C
Since the days of Elvis and The Beatles legions of people have flocked to guitars, basses, keyboards, drums to pay tribute to the bands that come before them or try to invent a new world all there own. This day in age there are so many genres in rock and metal that no matter what your taste is you can indulge yourself from bands all over the world. When most people think of rock they think of the British invasion or them classic rock bands from the United States. Yvon Serre and his band M.I.C has  been all over the world in one form or another showing there own take on rock from mixing funk and blues with a hint of classic rock mixed with enriched riffs and catchy hooks giving them a following from almost all continents. Yvon is such a great guy that always has time to talk music or day to day life with anyone that wants to talk. He is a family man always putting his family circle first in his life what is such a respectable thing cause in the music world that is not something that happens all the time. This months Band Spotlight is really special to me cause I have followed Yvon and been a fan of his band for a while now and being able to share his magic to you all is such a huge honor!!!!

                                                                                                            M.I.C 2013

RBJ
Yvon for the readers that might have not heard of M.I.C tell us a bit of history on the band? 

YS 
It was 2004 when I decided to permanently move to China..I had been playing music in Canada with bands since the age of 11 and had taken a little break from the music scene in 2002. after playing the 55th Anniversary Of The Liberation Of Chengdu T.V. show in December of 2004 I though it was time to come back to the music scene..I formed the band M.I.C. in 2005, played locally in the Chengdu China (Population 10 million) for a few years before recording the first M.I.C. Album in 2008. Now 5 albums later and another album on the way we have been lucky enough to play many T.V. shows in China. One  show worthy   of mention is where M.I.C. represented the City of  Chengdu in 2007, being broadcast to millions across China. Following that 5 CDs  have  generated  considerable  airplay  across  Europe, particularly  in  Spain, Germany, Netherlands,  U.K.,  France,  Poland,  Belgium,  U.S.A, Canada  &  Japan. Other media  features  include  a  full-page interview in the 2010 Sep/Oct issue of Heavy Magazine Germany's most  prestigious  Metal/Rock publication. In  addition they have  been reviewed in other major European magazines and countless webzines around the world.

More recently, M.I.C. has opened shows for various renown Chinese Pop Stars, including  Wang  Feng, An Youqi  &  Xian  Zion  on  live TV  broadcasts. In August of 2011 M.I.C. Opened the show for famous Hong Kong band Beyond. .M.I.C. makes it on the Front page of the Entertainment section of Chengdu's Biggest  Newspaper...Chengdu is one of  the  top Cities in  China  with  a population  of  10  million  people. October 3rd The 8th International Tour Music  Festival &  on  October 4th M.I.C. Headline The East Chengdu Music Festival in Chengdu as well as doing many shows across China.


RBJ
When did you decide to become a musician? What all instruments do you play?
 

YS
It wasn't my decision really ..from when I can remember I always wanted to play music..It was an obsession.
I play Guitar, Bass..drums and keys..

                            
                                                                  Yvon Serre rocking out!
RBJ
Give us a run down of the members of the band and what they play?
 

YS
The new line-up boasts new members Emilo Meleca on drums (Skip Tracer/Scarecrow), Dennis Papadatos on Bass (Tia Carrera, Liberty Silver, Natalie Cole,  Loverboy,  GOB,  Biff Naked, Dixie  Chicks,  Paul Brandt, Randy  Bachman) Silvio Potito on Keyboards (Perfect Strangers), and Mike O'Neil on backup Vocals and Guitar (Wednesday). Mike had a #1 Hit in Canada with "Last Kiss" back in 1974. The new album also includes special  guests Steve Skingley, on bass (Rik Emmit band, Triumph) and David Colin Burt on Guitar (CANO), plus lyrics on "LOVE HATE" by Jon Wilde (Bangalore Choir, Powerworld).



RBJ
What is the band doing now any new music coming out?

YS

We are currently in the studio recording M.I.C. 6th Sense - many new guests will appear on the new Album
due out spring/Summer 2015..



RBJ
I have a few of your albums and the songs are always very strong and well structured what is your writing process when you are writing new songs?

YS

Most of the time I scream my head off, play a few chords..until I like what I've got..then work at it until I'm satisfied.
Re work it if I think it's still good a few months later..sometimes I'll get a text from my co writer Jon Wilde..take my guitar and like magic music and Melodie will come out of me...



RBJ
Lets talk gear a few, What is some of your favorite gear you use?
 

YS
I've had, Les Pauls, Strats, Hiwatt etc..but at this point  I'm using my own custom guitars or cheap Chinese guitars I was able to buy in China..which play well..and a Digitech pedal ..ha ha ha..I'm not a Gear guy like you Jon..


                                                                                Yvon in China
RBJ
What is some of your favorite bands and or music?
 

YS
The Beatles will always be the top band for me..They're still blowing peoples minds today..my second favorite is the Alice Cooper Band
I loved their music and the theatrics were out of this world..then there's the Who, Johnny Winter, Brownsville Station, Mott The Hoople and more..



RBJ
You have toured some really amazing places and have been all around the world any certain tour or show stand out or any great stories to share about the road?
 

YS
One time we were asked to play a show somewhere in China..The promoter told us to bring long cords for our instruments..
We show up at the gig and it turned out to be a stadium..The best shows were in China..you never knew what venue you'd be playing until you got there..really a lot of fun..most of the times it was huge crowds..big stages..



RBJ
I have seen some of the live video's on Youtube and you have such a spectacular stage presence do you have any shows or tours lined up for 2015 yet?
 

YS
We've been asked to play a few shows already, but no dates have been confirmed yet..


                                                                                  M.I.C rocking out
RBJ
The music world can be a bit brutal for them new bands that are just getting there feet wet any advice for them to help them get them rolling?
 

YS
You're right the music business is brutal..I would say..Don't loose hope..when everything seems hopeless..like magic something appears in your life that gives you that extra boost you need to continue..History has shown that most bands that made it big ..became big because they stuck it out through thick and thin they worked hard..and of course they got lucky and found a good manager who worked even harder got them their first record deal..and after they became famous thought they made it because of their talent..that's what they heard from their groupies..ha ha ha..Ya need more than talent to make it..



RBJ
If you was not doing MIC what do you think you would be doing?

YS
I've though about quitting many times..then I start writing new songs then record a new album
Maybe someday a popular artist will choose one of my songs and have a big hit so I can make some real money..ha ha ha
I was lucky to have one of my song play on a Canadian T.V. show back in 2011, The series is still playing around the world in syndication.


Thanks
   Yvon

                                                                                   Yvon striking a pose
Yvon is the ultimate front man winning people over at every show he has ever done. What makes Yvon so special is he is the real deal from the music to the lives he has touched he has that unforgettable presence about him that draws people to him. I cannot wait to see what the new line up and music brings for one of rocks hardest working musicians cause M.I.C has payed more dues in the years they have been together then any ten bands do in twice the time. If you are a fan of good ol Rock N Roll then this is a band you really need to give a chance with there positive upbeat songs and great hooks that are easily implanted in your head. Yvon also has other projects he does from his solo work and The Harry Straight Band there is plenty of his work out there for just about any fan!!


Links For Yvon & M.I.C
Yvon Serre Personal Facebook Page
M.I.C Facebook Page
Yvon Serre Website







I had to share this also it is a picture that Yvon make up for one of my radio shows I did a few years ago.