PEACEMAKER by SKAM
(Off Yer Rocka Records)
With a reputation for delivering no nonsense, gutsy, classic sounding British rock music, UK rock trio, SKAM are back with their sophomore release, 'Peacemaker'. The new album finds the trio harking back to the essence of heavy rock 'n' roll, forging thunderous percussion to swagger filled riffs driven by rock solid vocals. At the same time, they keep their eyes wide open towards the future. Steve Hill Guitars on vocals, Matt Gilmore on bass and Neal Hill on drums. The album keeps a solid pace, and delivers some very well put-together songs and grinding riffs. Fans of SKAM's debut effort will get their dose as well with the title track as well as the runaway freight train that is, "Make You Pay". The trio's songwriting is well honed, masterfully crafted songs like, "Rivers", "Holy City" and "Fortune Favors The Brave" show a depth that was flirted with before but has come to full bloom this time around. For rockers looking for the "radio" track, check out the powerful, "The Wire". It provides a glimpse of what's new about SKAM and serves as the perfect stake to these guys claim to the throne. If you're a big fan of straight up butt kicking, take no prisoners rock, then this album will light you up! Excellent guitar work and gritty vocals makes you want to get up and boogie. SKAM deliver the goods. A rock band that write great songs and musicianship is top notch. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine
The Wild And The Young
DEAD CITY RUINS
Interview by The Dedicated Rocker Society
Splicing the musicianship of 70's and 80's metal and the soul catching riffs of bluesy rock with the intensity and "f*ck ‘em all" attitude of punk rock, Melbourne Australia’s Dead City Ruins have been hard at work carving out a path of their very own.
Featuring Jake Wiffen (vocals), Tommy Teabag (guitar), Sean Blanchard (guitar), Andy Alkemade (drums) and Tony Alkemade (bass), Dead City Ruins is a working class hard rock band fueled by what life throws at them … good times, bad times, disappointments, achievements, and life in the cruel fuckin’ city!
On January 20th the band will release the follow-up to their 2011 debut album, 'Midnight Killer' with a new self-titled offering via Metalville Records.
The new album, which was engineered by James Lugo (Iron Maiden, Bruce Springsteen, Dokken), features ten tracks in total including standouts such as, “Happenzella”, “Til Death”, and a wholehearted tribute to the late Ronnie James Dio with an original track aptly titled, “DIO”.
In an appropriate finale, the band close with a bonus track and tribute to their Australian brethren AC/DC covering “Rock ‘N’ Roll Damnation”, which includes a special guest appearance from vocalist Whitfield Crane of Ugly Kid Joe.
Following the recording of the album the members of Dead City Ruins immediately jumped back on the road for a thirteen country tour of the UK, Europe, and Scandinavia supporting American heavyweights Skid Row and Ugly Kid Joe to rave reviews! Dead City Ruins has also shared festival stages with the likes of Mastodon, Diamond Head, Orange Goblin, and Hardcore Superstar.
We had a chance to ask Dead City Ruins' singer, Jeff Wiffen about his band, their influences, Ronnie James Dio and more! Here's what he shared with us...
Q: How long have you guys been together as a band? How did you guys come up with the name for the band?
JW: DCR was formed in London during 2007, although that was a different line up To what we have now. The Current line up was formed in Melbourne during 2010, this is when we started to develop our real sound. There's not much of a story to the name really, I was drinking pretty heavily when I lived in London and I just thought the whole city was dead....... The name, Dead City Ruins just came to me whilst I was consuming a bottle of rum.
Q: How would you describe your band's musical approach? Who are some of your musical influences?
JW: Our sound has been quoted as sounding anywhere between Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains and Thin Lizzy. Our influences are pretty broad as individuals, from Meshuggah to Neil Young the list is pretty much endless, though as far as our musical sound I would say we lean on the following bands:
Sabbath
Thin Lizzy
Iron Maiden (killers era)
Judas Priest
Alice in Chains,
although lately we have been heavily into Crobot and The Rival Sons
Q: Memorable moment(s) in the making of your latest release, good or bad, that can share with us? Are you satisfied with how the album turned out?
JW: Haha the whole experience was out of control. It's the first time we have had a producer involved which was great but we were not used to it. we had just come off a 3 month European tour and we were struggling for cash and short on time. The other lads in the band pretty much partied the whole time, I blew my voice trying to get all the tracks done in a few days so we had to book more studio time, they wanted to kill me. Man we are true believers that it's never the perfect time to do anything as far as a band is concerned, you just roll with the cards your dealt and and do ya bloody best. We're stoked on how the record came out, high pressure no time....sometimes it just works.
Q: What is the song writing process for you as a band? Group or individual?
JW: We all write together, someone might have an idea, they bring it to rehearsal and we jam it out. Structures change over and over and we like to have a group input. You'll notice all our songs are credited to Dead City Ruins. No egos here, nobody is considered the band leader.
Q: Are there any plans for you guys coming to America to do some shows? If you do get to come over, who would like to tour with?
JW: In March we are relocating to Germany so we can be on tour all year, we have our eyes on the states aswell, we just need to find a booking agent.... If you know anyone? Our first tour of Europe we played 50 shows and slept in a tent, I'd love to do the same in the states. There's a ton of bands we would love to tour with, we supported Mastodon in Italy once, they are rad dudes, Motörhead of course. But realistically Crobot, Rival Sons or our good mates Airbourne.
Q: Regarding the song , "Dio", a great song by the way, it's obvious you guys are fans. (For each of you), what is your favorite Dio album and why?
JW: For myself, I'm a massive sabbath fan and when I first heard the album heaven and hell,I was pretty young and I thought what the hell happened to Ozzy!! But for me that is the greatest record Dio ever sung on. Every song brings back memory's of being a teenager sleeping in my car and just blasting that album.
Q: You guys do a killer cover of AC/DC' s "Rock N Roll Damnation", how did you get Whitefield Crane to come in a do vocals?
JW: Whit is an amazing person. We were lucky enough to tour Europe in 2013 and Australia in 2014 supporting Skid Row and Ugly Kid Joe, two of our favourite bands. We were just sleeping in our van, driving ourselves around and selling merch for gas money. Those dudes took us under their wing, they would bring us beers and breakfast, made sure we survived. So we became pretty good mates. After the tour Whit and Sonny spent some time chilling in Melbourne. Whit had mentioned that he wanted to cut and AC/DC song while he was in Australia (he's a massive fan of Bon) so we called around, booked some studio time and cut Rock n Roll Damnation. Whit does the best Bon!!
Q: Did you guys consider doing another classic? If so, which ones?
JW: We have messed around with a few other covers but I don't think we would attempt to record anything else.
Q: What goals have set you for yourselves as a band?
JW: Future goals for DCR are pretty straight forward, keep touring and keep recording. We want to be on the European summer festival circuit by 2016 and we want to get our arses to America.
Q: What separates Dead City Ruins from the rock bands that are out right now?
JW: It's always hard to say what separates your band from the "pack", I would just say we bridge the gap between metal and rock n roll. You could throw us on before slayer and we'll leave with new fans or you could throw us on supporting Aerosmith and we'll leave with new fans.
Q: What can we expected from you guys in 2015?
You can expect 2015 to bring a new DCR record and a ton of touring. We will be kicking off our European tour in England on March 18th. We're relocating to Germany and we will be playing as many shows in as many countries as we can possibly fit into one year. Cheers Guys, like I said, we want to get our arses to America so spread the word brother.
Jake
Dead City Ruins
For more info on, DEAD CITY RUINS, please visit,
http://deadcityruins.bigcartel.com/
BACK WITH A VENGEANCE
by 21st Century Goliath
(Independent Release)
21st Century Goliath from Charlotte, NC return with their highly anticipated sophomore release, 'Back With A Vengeance'. Tony Leone- Vocals, Scott Roby - Guitar, Kip Wilson - Guitar, Kenny Keeler - Bass and Adam Ellis - Drums. The new album flips the bird defiantly in the face of the sophomore slump. Picking up pretty much where their debut 'Radio Destroyer' left off. The band basically plugged in their instruments and recorded these songs which resulted in a raw, unrestrained, pure expression of rock n' roll excess. Huge hooks and pounding rhythms. From the opening "Welcome To The Dark Side", the band hold nothing back cranking it out big time with, "Dirty Little Secret" , "Cold Hearted Woman", "Got My Number" and "Detroit '76", which is an early favorite, but the whole album rocks like a hurricane. If ever an album was made to blow out stereo speakers, it is this one. It's one massive rock anthem after another celebrating rock & roll, booze, sex, and having sex while drinking booze and rocking. You don't buy an album like 'Back With A Vengeance' expecting the next Radiohead. You buy it because it's ROCKS! And man o' man does it ever deliver! 21st Century Goliath tear it up and sound like they are having a great time doing it. 'Back With A Vengeance' is a great one to crank up on your car stereo. If you like old school heavy party rock n roll, you should really check 21st Century Goliath out. Do you like rock n' roll? Then get this album. It's that simple. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine
FIGHT THE SYSTEM by Massive Wagons
(Off Yer Rocka Records)
Massive Wagons latest release, 'Fight The System' is well worth a listen, with the reliably catchy riffs and sing a long choruses you have come to expect from a band like this. Massive Wagons represent the hard working road loving rockers of old - when success was based on talent and raw energy rather than over production and slick advertising. The band is comprised of, Baz Mills - Vocals, Adam Thistlethwaite - Guitar, Carl 'Flash' Cochrane - Guitar, Bowz Bouskill - Bass and Alex Thistlethwaite - Drums. The energy of 'Fight The System' starts high, with their opening song, “Dirty Little Secrets", and maintains throughout to the last song, “Alive". All of the eleven tracks here are designed to be listened to at ridiculous levels of abandon that would be unseemly on anyone over 30. There are times when one feels the need to listen to exactly this sort of music. When working out on your punching bag. When blasting down the highway. When you've got a couple of mates over for a drinking session. Non-stop rocking from start to finish - no weak tunes, 'Fight The System' by Massive Wagons deserves to be played LOUD! - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/ All Access Magazine
YOUNG DOGS OLD TRICKS by Texas Flood
(Off Yer Rocka Records)
The smoking debut release 'Young Dogs Old Tricks' by UK Blues rockers, Texas Flood has a freshness, a vibrancy, and a real sense of urgency to it. A youthful hard rock edge with a stripped down, three guys playing in a big room together, feel. Like a mean, funky, blues rock band that can actually play their instruments like seasoned pros. It rocks with a hard contemporary edge. The band is powered by, Tom Sawyer on guitars and vocals, Ben Govier on bass and Tom Williams on drums. This trio serve up a top shelf blues-rock album with a variety of grooves, all with a down-and-dirty feel. There’s powerful blues-rock guitar action from top to bottom. 'Young Dogs Old Tricks' successfully captures all the amazing grace and guts of their blues rock roots. Highlights include the guitar-driven opener, "Cards", the riff driven, "A Little More (Frog Snog", the foot stomping, "Let The Wind Blow", "Rock And Roll Queen" and the highly-charged "Bullet Proof". Their hard-driving blues rock sound pushes the envelope, while they infuse just the right amount of good attitude and swagger. Overall this is a great effort by the band. I'm really looking forward to their upcoming albums! This band really has talent and they have potential. Everyone should keep a close eye on this band. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/ All Access Magazine
DRACULA - SWING OF DEATH
by Jorn Lande & Trond Holter
(Frontier Records)
Considered by many fans and critics as one of the finest voices in Hard Rock, Jorn Lande along with guitarist Trond Holter unleash upon the world the exciting concept album inspired by the life of Count Vlad the III, Prince of Wallachia, widely known as Vlad, The Impaler or by his birth name Vlad Dracula with. 'DRACULA - Swing Of Death' also features, Bernt Jansen (bass), Per Morten Bergseth (drums) and Lena Fløitmoen (vocals). This is not your typical rock opera, no narratives or over bearing instrumentals. Instead, it gets to the meat and potatoes of its diverse musical landscapes laced with dark catchy and melodic songs that have commercial radio potential. Focusing on the inner struggle inside the character of Dracula while taking into account some of the metaphysical aspects that passed into literature, forming the whole basis of the vampire legend. "Hands Of God", opens the album and sets the stage with its medieval sinister vibe. Next up is the epic, "Walking On Water", a rocker of a song powered by Jorn' s powerful vocal delivery laced with Trond Holter' s wicked guitar riffs. The title track has that Vaudeville swing and sway with a Meat Loaf meets Queen vibe. The mood swings dark with "Masquerade Ball", highlighted by Jorn Lande' s menacing vocal delivery. Other highlights include; "Save Me", "River Of Tears" and "True Love Through Blood". The musicianship is tight, the production is pristine and of course Jorn Lande sounds incredible. 'DRACULA Swing of Death' is a powerful concept album to listen to. It turns a horror story into epic heroism...but...listen carefully, that heroism is lined with a dark sinister edge! Pick this one up for a new musical twist tale about the timeless Dracula! - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/ All Access Magazine
CUT YOU DOWN TO SIZE (Ep)
by Western Sand
(Independent Release)
UK rockers Western Sand return with their latest Ep, the five song EP, 'Cut You Down To Size". When they released their self titled four song EP back in 2008, I was blown away by good they sounded. Western Sand is one of the best new bands I have heard in a long time. The band is made up of, Tyler Hains ~ Electric Guitar & Lead Vocals, Jimmy Bradshaw ~ Electric Guitar, Findlay Hotchkiss ~ Bass & Vocals and Nathan J. Kay ~ Drums/Percussion & Vocals. They're hard and heavy, but Western Sand is southern to the core, and they come by their love of music in a genuine way. While there are echoes of the past in their music their fluid musicality recalls Zeppelin it merely acts as a foundation for their music. Western Sand is a full-throttle modern rock band, with guitars that rage and a shuddering rhythmic attack. Tons of energy, good songwriting, hard rocking, and it sounds fresh. Nothing too fancy just blinding songs played with energy and verve. "Dark Horse", and "Cut You Down To Size" are great start points for new comers to the band, and fans of classic hard rock will likely sink their teeth into "Black Water Resolution", "Doin' Me Wrong", and "Carry Me Home", I don't see any weak points to this EP. Rocking songs served up by one hell of a band! - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine
iDENTITY by Alpha Tiger
(Steamhammer/SPV Records)
The latest release from German based rockers, Alpha Tiger comes in the powerhouse form of, 'iDENTITY,'. After one listen, I can say, Alpha Tiger are the complete package. They play a hard rock music laced with heavy metal overtones and lads deliver the goods big time! The production and mixing was done by by Tommy Newton (UFO, Victory, Gamma Ray) at the Area 51 Studio in Celle. Alpha Tiger's music will bring you up and drop you down like a rock. I like that in my metal. Most notable tracks are "Lady Liberty", "Long Way Of Redemption", the title track, "We Won´t Take It Anymore" and "Closer Than Yesterday" but overall this is the type of recording that doesn't require you to ever use your "skip track" button. The aggressive vocals delivery of Stephan Dietrich is incredible and reminded me of a young Geoff Tate. The melodies, the amazing guitar work (both heavy riffs and insane solos) from Peter Langforth and Alexander Backasch make for lethal combo and the rhythm section of bassist Dirk Frei and David Schleif on drums provide Alpha Tiger with a thunderous and solid foundation. The talent here is so thick, you can cut it with a knife. This record is addictive and will have you coming back to it again and again. I honestly can't spot any weak points. Clearly, Alpha Tiger are invigorated and excited about what they have done and with what the future holds for them, and so they should be. 'iDENTITY' is a massive slab of pure heavy metal. I HIGHLY recommend this album to anyone who enjoys such artists as Dio, Iron Maiden, Queensryche,and other similar great bands. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine
CHAPTER ONE by Level 10
(Frontier Records)
Level 10 is a new Trans-Atlantic Metallic alliance between powerhouse vocalist Russell Allen (Symphony X, Adrenaline Mob) and Mat Sinner, one of the real flags of German Heavy Metal music, on bass & backing Vocals, Roland Grapow – guitars, Alex Beyrodt – guitars ,Alessandro Del Vecchio - Keyboards and Randy Black – Drums & Percussion. Level 10's musical approach is some of the most intense sounds I've heard in quite sometime mainly because they've effectively combine the best elements of the hard rock-metal genre while performing the material with indescribable attitude and swagger. The album is loaded with 12 powerhouse rockers that are guaranteed to rock your senses in ways unimaginable! From the opening juggernaut "Cry No More", along with the devastating, "Soul Of A Warrior" with it's sinister groove and "One Way Street". Other highlights include, "Last Man On Earth", "In For The Kill" and "Forevermore" that closes the album like it started in a blaze of metallic glory! Russell Allen vocal's are great with catchy choruses and the production is SUPERB. This album really has a 'wall of guitars' sound to it. It really makes you want to headbang! If you love the basic DNA of Heavy Metal, ie. Huge guitars, amazing vocals, and good catchy over the top songs, then you will love Chapter One by Level 10. Overall I could not consider the debut release by Level 10 as anything less than a "Classic Heavy Metal" recording, that establishes this new project as a major force to be reckoned with! - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/ All Access Magazine
SUN RED SUN by Lynch Mob
(Rat Pak Records)
Lynch Mob unleash their 11th studio release, 'Sun Red Sun'. featuring the unique soulful vocal prowess of "Oni Logan", George Lynch playing at his prime, Robbie Crane running the bass at his best, and Scot Coogan rocking out the skins providing the Mob with a rock solid foundation. Mixed & mastered by Chris “The Wizard” Collier” (Lynch Mob/Lita Ford/KXM). The album packs one hell of a punch loaded with songs that will rock you for days! From the second the powerhouse, "Believers Of The Day", comes blasting out of the speakers, all guns blazing, it is clear that Lynch Mob are pulling no punches and holding nothing back! George proves that point with the guitar solo track, “Black Waters” as well as an acoustic ballad called "Sun Red Sun", which is a tribute to the late great Badlands singer Ray Gillen. The album also features a smoking cover of Bad Company’s "Burnin’ Sky" as well as four re-mastered bonus tracks from the original 'Sound Mountain Sessions' EP: "Slow Drag", "World of Chance", "City of Freedom" and "Sucka"! Each song absolutely shine with the metallic sheen of a rebuilt, finely tuned classic muscle car. George Lynch not only keeps his chops surgically sharp but has an uncanny knack for organically updating his sound & image without coming across as trying too hard. This is a man who not only dominates the "Art Of Guitar", but knows his way around a catchy hook, with multi platinum accolades to back it up! George Lynch continues to evolve convincingly, with power and grace. LYNCH MOB'S latest release, 'Sun Red Sun' will not disappoint. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine
S/T by Dead City Ruins
(Metalville Records)
As any discerning music fan knows, there are only two kinds of music: Rock and Roll. And in these times of social calamity, financial ruin and uncertain tomorrows, rock 'n' roll remains the only thing that most of us can always rely on. As a result, bands like Dead City Ruins are to be cherished and celebrated. Starting out in London England and making their way home to Australia whilst playing as many down trodden, these steely-eyed purveyors of balls-out, barnstorming classic rock are on a mission to put a smile back on your face. Ultimately, it's all about getting the basics right and giving the people what they want. The band is made up of, Jake Wiffen on vocals, the dual guitar attack of, Tommy Teabag and Sean Blanchard, Tony Alkemade on bass and Andy Alkemade on drums. These guys rock with plenty of balls and while there's no attempt to reinvent the wheel with any of their music, that suits the likes of me just fine. What I also like about these guys is that a sense of rawness, energy (no doubt that of youth) and also authenticity shines through in their music. That energy and rawness is evident from the moment you press play and "Hapenzella" blasts out of your speakers with no let up as the lads let loose with balls out rockers like, "Til Death", "D.I.B.", "Shot Through" and the down right nasty swagger of, "Blue Bastard". The lads also pay homage to the late Ronnie James Dio, with "Dio". Whitfield Crane from Ugly Kid Joe makes a cameo on a ball busting cover of the AC/DC classic, "Rock 'N' Roll Damnation". Rather than trying to be a clone of some 1980's LA bands, they have a sound that has elements of those bands but still has a great deal of originality with it, thus creating a sound uniquely identifiable as theirs. Killer riffs and catchy sing along choruses from front to back with no filler tracks to be found. If you like your guitars up front and out loud then give these guys a listen, you won't be disappointed. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society/All Access Magazine
YOUTH TAX by Rival State
(Four Leaf Records)
Rival State from New Plymouth, New Zealand was originally formed in 2002 as a high school rock band and like all stubborn teenagers first out of home the band ended up parting ways in 2007 to experience music from a different perspective. Rival State achieves something most bands wish they could...they just play rock music. There's no effects, no turntables, no keyboards, no choirs in the background, just two guitars, a singer, a bass and drums. Simple. That doesn't make them any less powerful to listen to. The band's six song Ep, 'Youth Tax' is great from beginning to end. No two songs sound the same, and it's obvious this band isn't trying to impress. They just write music that's personal, and hope that it touches people. Featuring a guitar sound that is also reminiscent of Thin Lizzy, these guys are just the right mixture of retro and modern rock! Check out, "Sleep Talker", "Aces", "Four Leaf Clover" and "Scatterbrains". These tracks give you a decent representation of what the rest of the album has in store. There is literally not a track on this album you will want to skip over! 'Youth Tax' has great rock n' roll energy and spirit, and is incredibly fun to listen to. It's a shame more modern rock bands don't take this approach. It seems like having fun isn't allowed anymore in mainstream rock. If you're into retro minded bands like Parlor Mob, Wolfmother, Stone Rider and Priestess, or just the classic bands they take inspiration from, you'll want to give Rival State a try. 'Youth Tax' is a terrific rock n' roll album from a band that should go far. - Highly Recommended
Tony @ The Dedicated Rocker Society
