Words: Malcolm Dome

Ah, the Van Halen album. Something that’s certainly proven to be a talking point. Opinions range from calling it excellent to utter rubbish. So, just where to put A Different Kind Of Truth (Interscope)? Well, it’s OK, but no more. Some of Eddie Van Halen’s playing is brilliant. However, the best that can be said about the songs is that they imitate some of the finest moments from the original David Lee Roth era. However, these 2012 versions really are a shadow of what went before. As is also the case with Diamond Dave. He doesn’t have the spark or sparkle of old. If you’re satisfied with a once great band attempting to recreate what made them so remarkable yet falling well short of previously high standard,, then you’ll enjoy this. Otherwise…avoid.

Much more palatable is the new Orange Goblin album A Eulogy For The Damned (Candelight). Their first release in five years, this is arguably their best album yet. It has drive, power, passion, sheer edginess, some excellent songs and thunderous, titanic performances from the foursome. Essential.

The Tubes have never let anyone down, in a career that now goes over 40 years. Love Bomb (Cherry Red) was their last charting album in America, when originally released in 1985. Now reissued, it’s very much of its time. It mixes rock, funk, dance and humour, but with a production that really belongs to a bygone era. Still, there’s enough quality and fun here to make it worthwhile.

Procol Harum’s place among the early prog pioneers is obvious as soon as you hear their self-titled, 1967 debut, now reissued by Union Square. The combination of talents draws on a blues background, but has an English eccentricity that’s born out by Matthew Fisher’s organ playing and Gary Brooker’s almost spoken approach to the vocals. In some respects now rather quaint, nonetheless the band’s visionary appeal remains clear. And there are loads of bonus tracks, including the evergreen A Whiter Shade Of Pale, which wasn’t on the original album.

Norwegians Ribozyme have an interesting approach, as the trio prove on Presenting The Problem (Indie Recordings). There’s a touch of progressive metal, an additive of grunge and a coating of alt. rock. all presented with melodic depth and significant musicianship. This lot are certainly capable of massive deeds.

Philip Sayce is a Welshman now living in Canada, and his approach to the blues is individual and enticing. On Steamroller (Provogue) he shows some deft touches and a depth of emotion that makes him stand out as a really fresh talent on the scene. You feel that, while it’s all been heard before, this man does it like it is totally new and vibrant. No mean feat. You can get the title song for nothing here.

Red Lamb are a trio led by one-time Anthrax guitarist Dan Spitz. Their self-titled  and self-released debut album, co-produced by Dave Mustaine (who also wrote some of the lyrics), is a firmly individual effort that offers only occasional glimpses of Anthrax influence. It’s more about Rage Against The Machine and Soundgarden, actually. And surprisingly powerful. The songs are tight and the music is hard, even occasionally harsh. Spitz proves here he has a future away from the ‘Thrax.

This time they were joined by

Mercyful Fate for the song Mercyful Fate

Lou Reed for a cover of Velvet Underground’s White Light/White Heat, plus Iced Honey and The View

Kid Rock for a cover of Bob Seger’s Turn The Page

John Bush of Armored Saint for The Four Horsemen

Marianne Faithful for The Memory Remains

Ray Haller of Sweet Savage for the Sweet Savage song Killing Time

Jason Newsted for Creeping Death and Battery.

Scott Ian joined Kirk Hammett onstage to tell stories about latebassist Cliff Burton.

Metallica also played the song Just A Bullet Away, from the Death Magnetic sessions. live for the first time.

Find out more at www.metallica.com

UPDATE: Metallica were joined by Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler, Dave Mustaine, Jason Newsted, Lloyd Grant, Ron McGovney and Mike Bordin for the final show on Saturday, December 10. On the previous night, Metallica’s guests were Rob Halford, Jerry Cantrell. Gary Rossington, Glenn Danzig, Pepper Keenan and Animal from the Anti-Nowhere League.

Words: Malcolm Dome

There are those who’ll tell you that without Jon Anderson Yes really shouldn’t exist. But with new vocalist Benoit David proving his worth, Fly From Here (Frontiers) is surprisingly excellent. Trevor Horn returns as producer, with Geoff Downes back on keyboards, giving the album a sound that has something of the mid-1980s, with a dash of Drama, plus a serious dollop of 21st Century vibration. It all works so well that this is actually the best Yes album for a long time.

Night Ranger are still more than capable of writing a good tune or six. So Somewhere In California (Frontiers) bristles and bustles with classic AOR goodness. An album to rank alongside some of their best 80s releases.

Raygun Rebels are a German-based trio who mix blues-rock, rockabilly and garage on Bring Me Home (SAOL). You may think the idea of a German band trying their hand at this sort of thing is a bit daft. But the groove is deep and authentic, and the album rocks along in a decent manner.

HeadCat is a combination of Lemmy, Slim Jim Phantom and Daniel B. Harvey. It’s taken them a decade to follow up their debut, but Walk The Walk… Talk The Talk (Niji Entertainment Group) shows they’ve still got enthusiasm for this type of roots rock ’n’ roll. Again, this is mostly covers of classic songs from an era without which we wouldn’t have rock as we know it, but there are also a couple of cool originals. Shows what can be done when you take three highly talented and motivated individuals and set them basking in the music that inspired them.

To celebrate the 25th anniversary of the fine Peace Sells… But Who’s Buying? album from Megadeth, Capitol Records have put out a deluxe version. Not only do you get the original record, which still sounds excellent especially now it’s been remastered, but also alternative mixes, some of which are previously unreleased, and a live performance from 1987 (again never before available). There are also sleeve notes from both Dave Mustaine and Lars Ulrich, plus a 3D cover.

UFO’s best period (well, according to some, including yours truly) gets rightfully significant treatment on the five CD set The Chrysalis Years Volune 1L 1973 – 1979 (Chrysalis). It features everything they released during that period, plus BBC sessions and a previously unavailable live recording from the band’s first US tour in 1974. Something every fan will want to own, even if you’ve got a lot of it already in various formats.

Finally, a live DVD featuring Twisted Sister – and you know that’s gonna be tremendous. Double Live (Eagle Vision) has the band live in Long Island during 1982 and when they renited in 2001 for a benefit show in New York. Both performances underscore the fact that you never get anything but onstage supremacy from Twisted, one of the best live bands of all time. There are also new interviews with them talking about both shows.

It’s to be called Thirt3en and will be released by Roadrunner in November. It’s been produced by Johnny K.

The band have already been performing one song from the album in concert. It’s called Public Enemy No. 1. See them playing it here.

Find out more at www.megadeth.com

Titled Fade To Black: Metallica By Bill Hale, it chronicles the band in their early years, photographed by Hale between 1982-4. This includes the line-up featuring Dave Mustaine and Ron McGovney, the first gig with Cluff Burton, the last show in the Bay Area with Mustaine and Kirk Hammett’s live debut in San Francisco.

The exhibition runs from February 3 to April 3.

Find out more at www.proud.co.uk/

1. Van Halen come over to the UK and play at a major festival.
2. Mike Portnoy returns to Dream Theater, although not before they release an album with a different drummer.
3. Saint Jude, Virginmarys and Touchstone head a British global rock assault, as we once again lead the world.
4. Ritchie Blackmore decides to put Rainbow back on the road, with Joe Lynn Turner as vocalist.
5. There’s talk of Slash and Axl settling their differences, but no reunion of the classic Guns N’ Roses line-up
6. Sales of rock and metal albums go up, as other genres continue to suffer.
7. Slade get back together one last time, and do a farewell show.
8. Dave Mustaine, David Ellefson, Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield get together for a one-off studio project.
9. The Rolling Stones announce their 50^th anniversary tour.
10. Jimmy Page finally returns to action with a solo album. Or at least thinks about doing one.

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax will be appearing together in the UK for the first time at Kenbworth Park on the intial day of the event.

Says Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich:

“As soon as the Big Four gigs started rolling across Sonisphere Festivals in Eastern Europe last summer, we all felt we were part of something special. The vibe within the bands was more than anyone had anticipated and the vibe with the fans was so next level, it completely blew our minds… there was no way this should not happen again! So I am beyond psyched that the first Big Four show in Western Europe will take place on the hallowed grounds of Knebworth, where so many unique and special gigs have happened over the years.”

Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine adds:

“The Big Four concerts are the most important, most exciting event to happen in the history of live concerts in our genre, and perhaps the entire music industry. I am glad to be a part of this enormous celebration of thrash, speed, and good ol’ heavy metal!.”

Kerry King of Slayer is equally as excited, stating:

“Now England is in line to be devastated by this heavy metal powerhouse! Can’t fucking wait!”

And Scott Ian of Anthrax has this to say:

“Merry early Xmas present for us… more BIG FOUR shows! The shows we did together with our brothers in Metallica, Slayer and Megadeth were not only the high point of 2010, but also some of the best shows Anthrax have ever played. Getting to share this with our friends in the UK will be amazing.”

This historic combination completes the headlining announcements for Sonisphere’s main stage, with Biffy Clyro topping the bill on Saturday, July 9 and Slipknot ending the festival on Sunday, July 10.

Tickets for Sonisphere are on sale now. For further info, including how you can get a free ticket for the Polish, Austrian or Czech Republic Sonispheres – go to www.sonispherefestivals.com

 GUNS N’ ROSES – The Appetite For Destruction line-up, that is. This would be a license to print money. Gentlemen, a several week residency at Wembley Stadium suit you? Steven Adler’s keen (wonder why?), Slash and Duff don’t seem against it, and Izzy would probably get involved for a while. And that only leaves…ah, yes, Mr. Unpredictable himself. So, who knows where this might go?

LED ZEPPELIN – Well they’ve done the occasional one-off show since John Bonham’s death in 1980. Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones were keen enough to rehearse with Jason Bonham. But Robert Plant appears to have no interest, which is why the other trio were contemplating using another singer. That fell apart, and right now there’s no chance of it coming back onto the agenda.

DEEP PURPLE MK III – This has been talked about for so long it’s become almost boring. David Coverdale has said yes on numerous occasions – only to backtrack fast when he realised that a certain guitarist didn’t seem so keen. Glenn Hughes is even more enthusiastic than Cov. But would Ian Paice give up his current day job with the millionth Purple line-up. And could they call themselves Deep Purple anyway? Mind you, just calling it MK III is good enough. 

BARCLAY JAMES HARVEST – Time for John Lees and Woolly Wolstenholme to welcome back Les Holroyd. Come on, chaps, it’s a bit ludicrous for one of the most polite band around to be locked into this long-term falling out. Just daft. 

MANOWAR – Real men don’t hold grudges. There is only one guitarist for the band: Ross The Ross. So, let’s see some true metal spirit on all sides. Death to false axemen.

UFO – Any chance of one last hurrah with ‘Mad’ Mickey Schenker and Pete Way? Yeah, we know Schenker can be a tad hatstand (seriously, he can!) and Way likes a drink or 17  (hard to believe, but true). But a final tour with these two on board would be, erm, intriguing. Who’d punch who first?

WISHBONE ASH – Wouldn’t it be nice to see the Argus line-up back together in a happy frame of mind? But right now, Andy Powell and Martin Turner are at each other’s throats. One says something, the other automatically disagrees. Great. But we know it’s a thin line between love and hate, and if these two start to kiss (metaphorically, natch) and make up, then Ted Turner and Steve Upton will join in the fun.

METALLICA – Now everything’s fine between ‘Tallica and Dave Mustaine, how about giving Kirk Hammett a temporary break, getting Mustaine in and doing a tour playing the set they used to do in the very early days. Getting back to the garage, as it were.

IRON MAIDEN – Every time the idea of a reunion with Paul Di’Anno is mentioned, bassist Steve Harris totally dismisses the idea. But Di’Anno is on the first two Maiden albums – and they helped define metal as we know it. Wouldn’t it be fun to see the band playing all of those songs again with the man who was at the microphone for them? Maybe at the Horse & Cart or some similar hostelry in East Lahndon.

MARINO THE BAND – Ah, wouldn’t it be delightful to see Lisa Dominique (pictured here)  and her guitar playing bro Marino reunited?  That’d bring back glorious memories of the 1980s for all (well, some) of us. 

OK, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Who would you like to see back together. Scribble your suggestions below.

Earlier this year, in March, Metallica manager Peter Mensch told Classic Rock the band had a major surprise lined up for 2011.

“Let’s just say that next year you will see a Metallica tour that will blow your mind,” Mensch said.

“They will only play in 10 cities but it will be a huge undertaking. It will be Metallica’s equivalent of The Wall.”

However, Lars Ulrich now tells Classic Rock that further Big Four shows – featuring Metallica along with Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax – could be in the offing.

“There’s a lot of exciting things that happen in the mind of Peter Mensch and sometimes they’re not easily understandable by the people who surround him,” the Metallica drummer chuckled.

“But the vibe on this thing [the Big Four tour] is so big, we’d be stupid to ignore it. You know on your iPhone, you can move the weather maps up and down? Well, the Big Four is quickly moving up to the top in terms of potential occurrences for the next couple of years.”

Even so, the success of the Big Four doesn’t mean Metallica have completely abandoned their own large-scale touring plans.

“We have been kicking some ideas around about doing some stuff that – how shall I say it – is pretty theatrical,” the tub-thumper confirmed.

“In the early years, before we started playing in the round, which we did on the Black Album, we were obviously inspired by the huge scale of Iron Maiden’s shows and so on.

“The idea would be for us to, potentially, try something theatrical again. It might be a bit of a nod to some of the different things that we’ve done such as the …And Justice For All tour, with the statue of Lady Justice that collapsed at the end of each show.

“We might incorporate a lot of different ideas, instead of it being one particular thing. It would be a multitude of theatrical elements, maybe as an idea for a one-off tour or something.”

But foremost in Ulrich’s mind at the moment is enjoying some well-earned time off.

“We started in May 2008, so we’ve got to go and lie down pretty soon! We’ve got three runs out in Australia, Japan and New Zealand in the Fall, then we’re going to take a little bit of a breather because at that point we will have been two-and-a-half years on the road.

“So I would champion trying to do this [the Big Four tour] in 2011 or 2012, obviously in England and the United States. It’s just a matter of logistics. I don’t think there’s anybody involved who considers there’s a sell-by date on this.

“But here’s the stuff: on November 20^th my ass is going home. I’m going to sit at home, and I know the other fellas in the band are gong to do the same thing. I would say we’re going to take at least six months off and do nothing, and then at some point in the spring or summer of 2011 we’ll start to figure out what to do next.”

On a different tack, Metallica have admitted that their controversial 2004 documentary Some Kind Of Monster may have been a mistake.

The documentary showed the band working – or not – on their disastrous 2001 album St. Anger. It involved a therapist who wanted to be a producer, constant arguments between Lars Ulrich and James Hetfield, and a confrontation between the drummer and Dave Mustaine.

Now Ulrich has admitted to the Herald Sun in Australia: “That thing has taken on a life of its own. I had to live that shit for three fucking years! The whole thing was a mindfuck. I am aware a lot of other musicians seem to have lived a lot of those moments. They weren’t necessarily stupid enough to film them like we were and share them with the rest of the world.”

It’s to be called Rust In Peace Live! and features the band’s show at the Hollywood Palladium on March 31 this year, when they played the whole of their classic 1990 album Rust In Peace. This will also be available in Blu-ray format.

Find out more at www.megadeth.com