2019 – Green and Black Music

King Diamond performed at Upper Darby’s historic Tower Theater in support of his upcoming album, The Institute. Touring to promote an unfinished album is a perplexing undertaking. Presumably, this decision was made in preparation for a Mercyful Fate reunion. In the absence of new music, King Diamond focused on vintage tracks from his peerless back catalogue. As the lights dimmed, “St. Lucifer’s Hospital” cast a macabre atmosphere over the packed theatre. The taped intro was creepy and left us curious about the latest twisted vision from King Diamond. “St. Lucifer’s…

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The Misfits – Madison Square Garden Concert Review (New York City 10-19-19)

October 22, 2019October 22, 2019 Green and Black Musicoriginal misfits reunion1 Comment

The Misfits are a band that no one expected to reunite. Oddly enough, it was litigation that brought reconciliation. A legal battle over the lucrative Misfits trademark was settled with an agreement to play several shows as “The Original Misfits.” Sporadic concerts followed, culminating with a sold out “hometown Halloween show” at New York’s famed Madison Square Garden. Demand for what would become the “final” Misfits concert was intense. Despite logging in to Ticketmaster during the presale, only 200 level seats remained. After securing seats it was official. I would…

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Sacred Reich: Awakening Album Review

September 14, 2019September 14, 2019 Green and Black Music0 comment

Metal has undergone an awakening in recent years. After an agonizing absence where metal receded from public view, classic thrash bands collectively rose from darkness. As new generations of kids got hooked on modern releases by 80’s thrashers, Sacred Reich was conspicuously absent. Signs of life came from the Sacred Reich camp in 2007 with a few European festival appearances. Without new music or a touring presence, Sacred Reich missed out on the renewed careers enjoyed by their peers. That imbalance is finally shifting with the release Awakening. Awakening is…

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Iron Maiden Concert Review – Philadelphia Pa July 30th 2019 – The Legacy of the Beast Tour

July 31, 2019August 8, 2019 Green and Black MusicIRON MAIDEN 2019, iron maiden wells fargo center1 Comment

Iron Maiden brought their Legacy of the Beast Tour to Philadelphia on a sultry Tuesday night. The looming threat of work in the morning did not keep the Maiden faithful away. A glance around the arena confirmed a full house. Even the upper levels were packed! The tour is a departure from previous outings. Instead of recreating a specific era in Maiden history, the production was built around The Legacy of the Beast video game. A stage set designed to recreate the virtual worlds inspired a setlist composed of crowd…

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Vintage Metal Shirts

June 29, 2019July 11, 2019 Green and Black Music0 comment

The eighties were the golden age of heavy metal! Even if you weren’t able to attend concerts, ample opportunities existed to collect metal shirts. From kiosks in the mall to adverts in magazines, affordable t-shirts were widely available. Album covers always translated into a killer t-shirt. Exclusive artwork created for merchandise were even cooler. These rare designs are the t-shirts that we will revisit. IRON MAIDEN Iron Maiden were the undisputed kings of the metal shirt. Eddie was a merchandizers dream. Each album brought a new permutation to the mascot…

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Allister Fiend: Motley Crue Mascot

May 3, 2019May 4, 2019 Green and Black Music0 comment

Allister Fiend is an under-represented mascot. Unlike Dio, Quiet Riot, and Iron Maiden, Motley Crue did not feature their alter ego on album covers. Instead, the cartoonish mascot found life in an endless succession of t-shirts. Whether supporting Theatre of Pain or Girls, Girls, Girls, Allister Fiend ensured the band was always shouting at the devil. Pentagrams remained a consistent theme in Motley Crue artwork. Allister Fiend was the star of other merchandise. The sleezy rocker adorned countless bedroom walls in a series of poster designs. Denim jackets were a…

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Rob Halford Guest Appearances

April 3, 2019August 18, 2019 Green and Black Musicblack sabbath rob halford, pantera light comes out of black1 Comment

They call Rob Halford the “Metal God” for a reason. His high-pitched shriek and biker persona set the precedent for future metal singers. Many have tried to imitate Halford’s unique style but invariably fall short. Fortunately, the Judas Priest vocalist has freely lent his signature vocals to bands new and old. Enjoy the following guest appearances of the inimitable Rob Halford! SKID ROW – DELIVERING THE GOODS Skid Row used the occasion of B-Sides to record cover versions of their favorite songs. “Delivering the Goods” may be the most memorable…

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King Diamond: Songs For The Dead Live – Philadelphia Concert Review

March 12, 2019July 31, 2019 Green and Black Musicking diamond 2015, king diamond fillmore0 comment

King Diamond has been through hell and back. It all started after the release of Give Me Your Soul…Please. In 2007, a painful herniated disc left the legendary vocalist immobilized. The North American tour was cancelled. Patient fans wished him well and waited for signs of life from the King Diamond camp. More bad news came in 2010. Several blocked arteries necessitated triple bypass heart surgery. The invasive procedure was agonizing and the extensive recovery time left many wondering if King Diamond would ever return to the stage. Signs of…

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Megadeth: Killing Is My Business…And Business Is Good – The Final Kill Review

January 11, 2019January 11, 2019 Green and Black Musicmegadeth final kill0 comment

Killing Is My Business is an undeniable classic in the thrash canon. A low-fi production perfectly captured the DIY aesthetic of an underground scene. Megadeth have scrapped the original art, remixed and remastered the music, and added bonus tracks in a definitive edition titled The Final Kill. One can’t help but note how “modern” the record sounds. Purists worried that a remix would lose the debut’s nostalgic charm. The energy, feel, and spirit of 1985-era Megadeth remain. Guitars and vocals now have a clarity that eighties technology failed to capture. The…

Year: 2019

King Diamond Concert Review: Tower Theater, Upper Darby PA 11-10-19