Tarantula

 Today in 2010 Tarantula released the album Spiral of Fear

Valadares, Vila Nova de Gaia, Oporto, Portugal Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1981-1985 (as Mac Zac), 1985-present

Pursuing the most classical and furious heavy metal heritage, Tarantula appeared on Portugal's music scene in the beginning of the '80s. Focusing on dark and obscure themes within their songs' lyrics, the Portuguese squad supported it with pure and potent guitar riffs, this way producing truly striking metal compositions. Formed in 1981, Tarantula counted on a lineup consisting of the Barros brothers, Paulo (guitar and vocals) and Luís (drums), added by Jorge Marques on lead vocals and Jorge Moura on bass. After more than six years on the road, during which they managed to play multiple sold out concerts, not only in Portugal, but also in Germany, the band released their eponymous debut, Tarantula, in 1987. Succeeding yet another three years filled with live dates, Kingdom of Lusitania, their second album, was their major breakthrough. However, they then concentrated on the foundation and activities of a music school, named Rock'n'School, that delayed the edition of their third and fourth albums, Tarantula III in 1993 and Freedom's Call in 1995. Another four year hiatus followed, during which they played several concerts with bands such as Manowar, Gamma Ray, or Hammerfall. Tarantula then finally signed on for AFM Records, on which they released their fifth disc, Light Beyond the Dark in 1999. During the albums' supporting tour, the band was the opening act for Deep Purple and Motorhead, before Dream Maker, their latest release to date, hit the record stores in 2000.

Gluetone Records

José Aguiar Bass

Luís Barros Drums

Paulo Barros Guitars

Jorge Marques Vocals

1. Dark Age 04:00

2. Open Your Eyes 04:06

3. Shadows 03:20

4. Who You Really Are 03:46

5. Among Us 04:22

6. Spiral of Fear 03:48

7. Blind Ambition 03:00

8. Afterlife 03:52

9. Vultures 04:26

10. Hope 05:55

40:35

The Stooges

 Today in 2010 The Stooges released the live album Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano's

Ann Arbor, Michigan Proto-punk garage rock hard rock punk rock avant-punk

Status:Split Up

Years active: 1967–1971 1972–1974 2003–2016

During the psychedelic haze of the late '60s, the grimy, noisy, and relentlessly bleak rock & roll of the Stooges was conspicuously out of time. Like the Velvet Underground, the Stooges revealed the underside of sex, drugs, and rock & roll, showing all of the grime beneath the myth. The Stooges, however, weren't nearly as cerebral as the Velvets. Taking their cue from the over-amplified pounding of British blues, the primal raunch of American garage rock, and the psychedelic rock (as well as the audience-baiting) of the Doors, the Stooges were raw, immediate, and vulgar. Iggy Pop became notorious for performing smeared in blood or peanut butter and diving into the audience. Ron and Scott Asheton formed a ridiculously primitive rhythm section, pounding out chords with no finesse -- in essence, the Stooges were the first rock & roll band completely stripped of the swinging beat that epitomized R&B and early rock & roll. During the late '60s and early '70s, the group was an underground sensation, yet the band was too weird, too dangerous to break into the mainstream. Following three albums, the Stooges disbanded, but the group's legacy grew over the next two decades, as legions of underground bands used their sludgy grind as a foundation for a variety of indie rock styles, and as Iggy Pop became a pop culture icon.

Rhino Records

Iggy Pop – vocals

Scott Asheton(R.I.P. 2014) – drums

Ron Asheton (R.i.P. 2009)– lead guitar

Bill Cheatham – rhythm guitar

Zeke Zettner – bass

Steve Mackay – tenor saxophone

All tracks are written by The Stooges, except where noted.

No. Title Writer(s) Length

1. "Going to Ungano's" 1:47

2. "Loose" 3:14

3. "Down on the Street" 4:24

4. "T.V. Eye" 4:18

5. "Dirt" 6:05

6. "1970" 5:55

7. "Fun House" 3:21

8. "Have Some Fun" / "My Dream Is Dead" Iggy Pop, Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton 10:39

Original studio versions of tracks 2–7 are available on The Stooges' second (studio) album Fun House released on July 7, 1970.

Have Some Fun: Live at Ungano's is a live album by the rock band The Stooges. It was originally recorded on August 17, 1970 as an audience recording by Danny Fields, who signed the band in 1969.

Solefald

 Today in 2010 Solefald released the album Norrøn livskunst

Oslo,Norway Post-Black Metal/Avant-garde

Status:Active

Years active 1995-present

Solefald has often been categorized as "avant-garde black metal", and to these ears that's a fine description of this adventurous Norwegian duo, with the possible exception being they are gradually moving away from "real" black metal. With each successive album they reach just a bit further, branching out just a bit more, such that one album doesn't sound a lot like the next yet they all sound uniquely like Solefald. Though both guys are credited with vocals, it's Lars Nedland's clean, strong voice that truly stands out, so much so that other bands featuring him (Age Of Silence is a good example) invariably end up described as "sounds like Solefald". Most recently they released the two-CD epic An Icelandic Odyssey, and true to form they continue to forge a diverse sound uniquely their own. To these ears, the best album is 2001's Pills Agains The Ageless Ills, but there's no dud in the bunch. Kudos to these guys for expanding the boundaries of extreme music.

Indie Recorings

Cornelius Jakhelln Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Lyrics

Lazare Vocals, Keyboards, Drums, Percussion

Guest/Session

King Wah Howls (track 4)

Agnete Kjølsrud Vocals (female) (tracks 3, 7)

Benedicte Maurseth Vocals (female) (tracks 1, 2, 10), Hardanger fiddle (track 1)

Kjetil Selvik Saxophone (tracks 4, 5, 7)

Vangelis Labrakis Guitars (lead) (track 6)

1. Song til stormen 04:56

2. Norrøn livskunst 04:16

3. Tittentattenteksti 04:14

4. Blackabilly / Stridsljod 05:49

5. Eukalyptustreet 09:24

6. Raudedauden 03:11

7. Vitets vidd i verdi 05:35

8. Hugferdi 05:53

9. Waves over Valhalla (An Icelandic Odyssey Part III) 06:28

10. Til heimen yver havet 04:15

54:01

The poem "Song til stormen" is from "Glør i oska" (1946)

Cover art for "Norrøn Livskunst" by Trine + Kim Design Studio

King is credited for "wah howls" on track 4 courtesy of Chilihead/Egghead Prodz. King is a character that performs in the band Chilihead in Cornelius Jakhelln's novel Voguesville. The song "Stridsljod / Blackabilly" is dedicated to King.

Indie Recordings' pressing has several typos, mostly being misplaced spaces "e.g. "Norrø n Livskungst" and "SOLEFAL D"

Recording information:

Vox Cornelii, guitars & bass recorded at Oslo Lydstudio.

Vox Lazari recorded at Dub Studio.

Drums recorded and produced at Toproom Studio.

Keys and effects recorded at Mezzanine Studio.

Taka Minamino

 Today in 2008 Taka Minamino released there debut album AngelWing

Osaka, Osaka Prefecture, Japan / Los Angeles, California, United States Neoclassical Power Metal

Status:Active

Years active:?

Taka Minamino proves shred lord on his 2009 release Angel Wing, Guitar work is impressive, not only the speed of it, but it has what most shredders forget about, it has some soul. Guest appearances on Angel Wing include Jeff Scott Soto and Derek Sherinian, other than that, this entire cd is full out Taka. If I had to compare it to another release, I would put Taka right next to Yngwie, so you can get an idea of what I'm talking about in general. Best thing to do is pickup your own copy of Angel Wing or checkout www.takaminamino.jp and decide for yourself. I look forward to bigger and better things for Taka and I hope to get the chance to see his skills live in 2010. Full Metal Rock gives Taka 2 thumbs up. Hold on to your hats

Crystal Force records

Kevin Jones Vocals (additional)

Rafael Borks Piano, Orchestrations

Jeff Bowders Drums

Kelly Simonz Bass

Taka Minamino Guitars

Guest/Session

Jeff Scott Soto Vocals (additional)

Tony Franklin Bass

Derek Sherinian Keyboards

1. Divine Death 01:16

2. Afterlife in the Hell 04:16

3. Violence Breeds Violence 04:11

4. Forever Love 05:33

5. AngelWing 04:33

6. Memories of You 05:16

7. My Requiem 04:39

8. Eye of Tranquility 01:38

31:22

Skelator

Today in 2008 Skelator released there debut album Give Me Metal or Give Me Death

San Diego, California (early), Seattle, Washington (later)

Epic Heavy/Speed Metal

Status:Active

Years active: 1998-present

What started as a bunch of teenage San Diegan Slayer/Manowar fans writing songs about Skelator taking over the world has turned into a bunch of 20 something year old Rainbow/Sabbath fans writing songs about their favorite fantasy books. The band has stayed true to itself through the years writing epic songs, and rock anthems. We are not a joke, but we also know how to have fun. Bands that take themselves too seriously bore us. But bands that don't play from the heart should be destroyed, this is our decree.

Independent

Carl Larsson Bass

Samuel Rodger Guitars

Patrick Seick Drums

Jason Conde-Houston Vocals

Robbie Houston Guitars

1. Night Stalker 05:10

2. Riders of the Wehrmacht 04:21

3. She-Ra 03:53

4. Skelator 05:02

5. The Skelatorian Manifesto 03:09

6. Wrath upon the Cross 04:19

7. Crusade 07:40

8. Give Me Metal or Give Me Death 06:14

39:48

2007 re-recording of the band's 2003 demo of the same title. It was originally available only as download from the band's website.

Christ Agony

 Today in 2008 Christ Agony released the album Condemnation

Morąg (early), Olsztyn (later),Poland Melodic Black Metal

Status:Active

Years active:1990-2005, 2005-2007 (as Union), 2007-present

Christ Agony is one of Poland's cult underground extreme metal bands, having formed in 1990 by guitarist/vocalist Cezar. Cezar has been the one mainstay in the band, the lineups frequently changing over the years. Reviewed here are two mid-period albums, 1995's Moonlight Act III and its successor, Darkside, released in 1997. The band is broadly in the black metal camp, though their style isn't quite the traditional black metal style, instead borrowing more from traditional metal riffing, with an epic, drawn-out songwriting style. Moonlight is the more conventional of the two albums, as Darkside is much more experimental, with industrial touches, a more somber, melancholic feel (in places), and some clean singing. On the strength of these two albums, Christ Agony hasn't quite reached must-hear status, but their somewhat original style is commendable, and that alone makes them an interesting listen.

Razorbleed Records

Cezar Vocals, Guitars

Reyash Bass, Vocals (backing)

Icanraz Drums

Guest/Session

U. Reck Keyboards

Rav Xela Intros on "Tzelem H Chiva" & "Avich H Meletz"

1. Devil's Invocation 06:06

2. Psalm ov Livia Khao'tsu 04:48

3. Condemnation Pt.I 04:17

4. Temptation ov Lost 06:13

5. MarchManifesto 05:30

6. BloodSeedNation 04:30

7. Condemnation Pt.II 04:15

8. Cult Domination 05:38

9. The LeviThan'Suite 12:13

10. Purgatory Beast 02:20

55:50

Cezar dedicated album in memory of His Mother Elizabeth 1945 - 2007.

Comes in a slipcase.

Recording information:

Recorded at Studio X Olsztyn 18-24.04 & 11-14.07.2008.

Unearthly Trance

 Today in 2007 Unearthly Trance released the EP Eleven Are the Voices

New York City, New York Sludge/Doom Metal

Status:Active

Years active 2000-2012, 2015-present

These New Yorkers have been plying their trade since 2000, with a string of albums and several splits (not listed here) to their credit. The term "drone" is sometimes mentioned when describing this band, but to these ears it's more of a secondary influence, as the style here embodies sludge metal to a T -- slow, angry doom with tortured hardcore-ish vocals. The pace rarely quickens and the mood seldom approaches anything upbeat, and that's how sludge metallists like it.

Land o'Smiles Records

Jay Newman Bass

Darren Verni Drums

Ryan Lipynsky Vocals, Guitars

Guest/Session

Pete McCoil Lyrics (Track 2)

Side A

1. Veins 06:35

Side B

2. Phoenix Undead 08:09

14:44

Comes in gatefold cover on black vinyl.

Sides that normally would be listed as A and B are listed as 6 and 5, respectively.