Russell Allen & Jorn Lande

Two of the best singers I have heard in a long time; Russell Allen and Jorn Lande. They have made music both as solo artists, in  separate bands (Lande's Masterplan / Allen's Symphony X) or together in a band (Allen/Lande) and in supergroups (like Avantasia). 

The kind of vocals found here makes me a proud hater of all the modern shows like Idol, X Factor, Talent etc. etc. This is some real music and singing, such power and feeling is not something you hear on commercial radio these days. Awesome.

Allen/Lande - Where Have The Angels Gone (The Battle, 2005)

Allen/Lande - Master of Sorrow (The Revenge, 2007)

Russell Allen's Atomic Soul - Loosin' You (Atomic Soul, 2005)

Jorn - I Walk Alone (Spirit Black, 2009)

Allen/Lande - The Showdown (The Showdown, 2010)

Masterplan - Sail On (Masterplan, 2003)

Symphony X - When All Is Lost (Iconoclast, 2011)

ESP - Eric Singer Project

Eric Singer Project, or ESP, is the side project of KISS drummer Eric Singer. A really good band with great musicians. 

The band features Eric Singer (KISS, Alice Cooper) Bruce Kulick (ex KISS), John Corabi (ex Mötley Crue) and Chuck Garric (Alice Cooper). All members sing, but most vocal duties are handled by Corabi and Garric. The band plays almost exclusively clubs and small venues, which is a shame because they are really good. On the other hand, that makes room for great intimate concerts with a varied set. The band mostly plays covers from the members previous/recent careers and solo efforts. Here's a sample of KISS covers that they just rip into pieces. Real heavy stuff, seriously cool! 

Keep an extra look at Eric Singer (drummer) and know that he is one of the best in the business. At least when it comes to adapting different styles, the man can play anything!!

Jungle

War Machine

Unholy

Black Diamond

The Envy!

Really cool band from Canada! The Envy. Modern rock at its best. Great band.

Don't Let Go

You're The Sex

Cold

Moth To The Flame

KISS Kruise II Setlists

KISS is currently cruising the Caribbean with members of the KISS Army from around the world. The Kruise was sold out with some 2,200 people on board. The ship set off from Miami as the first gig of the Kruise took place - an unplugged sail-away set of some rare songs, mostly from fan requests. 

The setlist for the first gig:

Hard Luck Woman / Christine Sixteen / Got To Choose / Goin' Blind / Love Her All I Can / Nothin' To Lose / Take Me / Any Way You Want It / A Million To One (partial) / A World Without Heroes / Only You / Comin' Home / All Hell's Breakin' Loose (partial) / Every Time I Look At You / Strutter / Sure Know Something / C'mon And Love Me / Rock Bottom / Beth / Shandi / She / Do You Love Me / Mr Speed / Shout It Out Loud /

Second Day and the first full show in the ships theatre had quite a few songs from Monster in the setlist:

Psycho Circus / Shout It Out Loud / Hell Or Hallelujah / Wall Of Sound / Hotter Than Hell / All For The Love Of Rock & Roll / I Love It Loud / Outta This World / War Machine / Long Way Down / Detroit Rock City / Calling Dr Love / Love Gun / Black Diamond / Lick It Up / Christine Sixteen / Rock And Roll All Nite / Cold Gin / Got To Choose / Nothin' To Lose / Deuce /

This is all the KISS-show that fits in the ships theatre. 

Third Day had the second show in make-up with the setlist mixed up a bit, but pretty similar to the first night:
Take Me / Psycho Circus / Shout It Out Loud / Hell Or Hallelujah / Wall Of Sound / Do You Love Me / War Machine / All For The Love Of Rock & Roll / Makin' Love / I Stole Your Love / Outta This World / She / Hotter Than Hell / I Love It Loud / Long Way Down / Magic Touch (partial) / Detroit Rock City / Strutter / Calling Dr Love / Love Gun / Black Diamond / Lick It Up / C'mon And Love Me / Rock And Roll All Nite /

Up close in such an intimate venue sure is Kool…

I thought about getting myself a ticket, but the cabins in my price range was long gone… Seems I should have gone anyway, right…?! Well, maybe I'll get inducted into the KISS Navy next year, since Paul Stanley announced a third cruise next year…

Sunday music from Within Temptation

Here's a couple of Sunday tunes from Within Temptation. Songs are all from their latest release The Unforgiving (2011). The band contains something as unusual as a female rock/metal singer that both looks and sounds great. Great songs and great arrangements. 

Did I mention the singer is hot? Her name is Sharon den Adel (*opening Google, select images, type sharon den adel, wipe saliva from corner of mouth*). From Holland. I'm moving there tomorrow.

Shot In The Dark

Faster

Sinéad

Avantasia is really music!

Killer song, killer band, killer album, killer music. Good shit, full of great singers! Band's called Avantasia, frontman's called Tobias Sammet!

Wicked Symphony

Shelter From The Rain

The Story Ain't Over

The Scarecrow

Check out their three latest albums The Scarecrow, Wicked Symphony and Angel of Babylon...

KISS' Monster is not perfect, which is perfect!

So… KISS' new album Monster. It's one of the better and harder albums they've released so far. Some of the classic seventies albums is untouchable, but it beats every 80's release (except Creatures) and every 90's release (except Revenge). Strong material and continuity throughout. I'd give it the grade 4/5.

Best songs is hard to choose but if you (pun intended) Got to Choose: Freak, Take Me Down Below and All For The Love of Rock & Roll.

Be sure to check out the bonus track Right Here Right Now. It should have been the closing song of the album because it's one of the better songs!

So about the album as a whole… In this blog, I don't like the modern approach with everything digitalised and perfected down to the last detail - and when it has to be so perfect that people gets replaced by computers then something is clearly wrong.

Monster was recorded on analog tape. It was played with four basic instruments (two guitars, bass, drums) by four people. P-e-o-p-l-e! The songs were recorded in the same room at the same time by the guys in three or less takes - live! The songs were not modified or enhanced afterwards, just ordinarily produced by Paul Stanley himself. The songs were written by the guys in the band only, no outside writers. All members have writing credits on the album (even the drummer!) and (not so) new member Tommy Thayer co-wrote most of the tracks.

So in summary… Monster was made and performed live by people with real instruments. KISS didn't use computers or playback, overdubbing, synths or any of that bullshit. Just pure rock & roll with heart and soul. It's not perfect, but that's just the way I like it.

The kind of music this blog is dedicated to just feels much more alive than all the digitalised, computerised crap that is out there today…