Album Reviews – Page 3 – Green and Black Music

The Undead: Having an Undead Summer Review

October 12, 2017October 12, 2017 Green and Black Music0 comment

It’s 2017 and The Undead are alive and well. Bobby Steele and company apparently had a blast during their summer tour. This October, the band released a new 7 inch titled Having an Undead Summer. To create the cover for their latest outing, The Undead tapped Tim Jacobus of Goosebumps fame. The colorful sleeve depicts a fun-loving monster catching a wave on his surfboard. I took advantage of the pre-order. For $7.50, I received free shipping, a pin, and an autographed copy of Having an Undead Summer pressed to orange…

Kryst the Conqueror – Post Misfits Christian Metal

August 31, 2017July 21, 2019 Green and Black MusicDoyle fan club0 comment

After the demise of The Misfits, Glenn Danzig promptly formed Samhain. Jerry Only and Doyle seemingly disappeared from public view. What had become of the Caiafa brothers in the long gap between Misfits eras? They formed a Christian metal band! Kryst the Conqueror, pronounced CHRIST the Conqueror, was not a band in the traditional sense. The group never performed live and did not have an “official” singer. They DID, however, write a series of songs that mixed positive Christian messages with fantasy-themed lyrics. The Doyle Fan Club was formed in…

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The Clash – Exploring the Vanilla Tapes (London Calling Rehearsals 1979)

July 29, 2017July 31, 2017 Green and Black Musicthe clash 1979, the clash london calling0 comment

Persistent rumors of “lost” Clash recordings haunted die-hard fans for a solid 25 years. According to legend, The Clash documented London Calling rehearsals in a makeshift practice room at Vanilla Studios. This coveted material failed to surface, leading many to question whether the “Vanilla Tapes” actually existed. Joe Strummer first hinted at the existence of self-made tapes during a 1979 interview. Strummer proposed that bands could avoid expensive studio bills by recording on simple Teac machines. It was a noble idea, perhaps a way to extricate The Clash from corporate…

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Alice Cooper – From the Inside: Revisiting the Asylum

June 2, 2017June 7, 2017 Green and Black Musicalice cooper the quiet room, bernie taupin, jackknife johnny, the strange case of alice cooper2 Comments

Alice Cooper soared to incredible heights in the seventies. As his solo career eclipsed the original Alice Cooper band, the shock rocker became a bona fide star. Alice appeared on talk shows, hung out with celebrities and even hosted The Muppet Show. Alice Cooper had transcended the role of rock star to infiltrate American popular culture. Behind the scenes Alice was unraveling. Nearly a decade of alcohol abuse had taken its toll. Rumored to drink a case per day, Alice coughed up blood each morning before cracking open his first…

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The Ramones – Revisiting Too Tough To Die

March 29, 2017September 1, 2017 Green and Black Musiced stasium, richie ramones, tommy ramone0 comment

The Ramones had gotten too far from their core in the early eighties. Fruitless efforts to win over radio had transformed the boys from Queens into a pop band. It was time to recapture the inspired simplicity of their formative years. Hailed as their comeback record, Too Tough To Die recaptures the excitement of the early days. It was like 1978 all over again. Not only had Tommy reprised his role as producer, The Ramones also had a brand new drummer. Replacing the recently fired Marky, Richie Ramone seemed determined to…

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Top 10 Thrash EPs

December 12, 2016November 23, 2018 Green and Black Musicanthrax I'm the Man, dark angel live scars, forbidden raw evil, megadeth hidden treasures, nuclear assault brain death, slayer haunting the chapel, testament live at Eindhoven1 Comment

The EP was a popular format for thrash bands signed to cash strapped labels. Typically holding between three to five songs, bands filled these shorter records with a variety of material. Sometimes an EP unveiled new songs. Other times the format doubled as a live album. Cover songs were another popular option. Join us as we explore the glory days of the Thrash EP! SLAYER- HAUNTING THE CHAPEL Clocking in at just over 13 minutes, Haunting the Chapel was the perfect follow-up to Show No Mercy. “Chemical Warfare” and “Captor of…

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Hardwired…to Self-Destruct: Reconciling with Metallica

November 29, 2016December 5, 2016 Green and Black Musichardwired...to self-destruct, Metallica0 comment

Full disclosure. I was one of the fans that felt alienated by the “Black Album.” Those feelings only intensified with the release of Load and Reload. I hated their new image, the haircuts, the music, but most of all, I resented that they had turned their backs on metal. In short, I disconnected from all things Metallica. Please don’t be angry with me. I know many fans stayed with the band every step of the way. Millions came on board during the era that caused me to flee. I don’t…

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Black Sabbath: Revisiting Born Again

October 25, 2016October 26, 2016 Green and Black MusicBlack Sabbath, born again, deep purple, ian gillan, purple sabbath, stonehenge7 Comments

Born Again has enjoyed renewed interest in recent years. The only album to feature vocalist Ian Gillan, the lineup faced the unfair burden of competing with preconceptions of what Black Sabbath should be. Gillan soon returned to Deep Purple while Iommi began work on the Seventh Star record. Born Again has since become a half-forgotten gem in the vast Sabbath canon. Time has a way of mending wrongs. As older fans listen with fresh ears and younger ones retroactively explore Deep Sabbath, Born Again has earned a cult following. Not only…

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ROCKET TO RUSSIA: THE PUNK ROCK ART OF THE RAMONES

May 1, 2016November 2, 2018 Green and Black Music0 comment

The Ramones had high expectations for Rocket To Russia. Songs like “Rockaway Beach,” “Locket Love” and “Sheena is a Punk Rocker” were pure pop. When the album peaked at 49 on the billboard charts the band was bitterly disappointed. Many blamed the stalled momentum on a rival band from the U.K. The Sex Pistols had dirtied up the punk aesthetic with their nihilistic self-destruction. For better or worse, the genre was now viewed as confrontational and dangerous. Radio shunned all things punk. Any chance of Rocket to Russia yielding…

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MEGADETH – DYSTOPIA ALBUM REVIEW

April 9, 2016August 19, 2016 Green and Black Musicalbum review, Chris Adler, Dave Ellefson, Dave Mustaine, Dystopia, Kiko Loureiro, Megadeth, Vic Rattlehead0 comment

Dystopia is the product of perseverance. When Shawn Drover and Chris Broderick abruptly quit the band after the disappointing Super Collider, Megadeth fell into disarray. Rampant rumors of a Rust in Peace reunion failed to materialize. A complete transformation was necessary to get the band back on track. Enter Kiko Loureiro and Chris Adler. These two giants were exactly what was needed to re-energize Mustaine. With the familiar presence of Ellefson holding the band together, this latest incarnation has created the best Megadeth album in decades. There was never…