NYS Music 20​14

Category: Reviews

  • The New Daze Rock The Montage

    The Montage Music Hall was rockin’ Saturday January 11, with a performance kicked off at 10pm by an up-and-coming band from Syracuse, The New Daze.

    The band’s set was started with a medley, beginning with “Uncle Stremnf,” merging into a new version of one of their older songs, “Sloth Fingers”, a tease of The Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Sir Psycho Sexy”, and ending with a reprise of “Uncle Stremnf.” For only three guys, The New Daze brought a huge sound that couldn’t be tamed. The few people who were in attendance seemed mesmerized by psychedelic sound effects and guitar solos. The New Daze was accompanied by Steve Graf on percussion for their entire set and had keyboardist Mike McDonald of Formula 5 sit in for “Mike’s Song.” Their set closed with the track, “Off Brand,” from the band’s first album.
    2014-01-11 The New Daze (5)

    Despite the lack of a crowd, the Montage was roaring as The New Daze exited and the bandtook the spotlight. The intense jam started with their song “Perch Above the Earth,” followed by “The Fall” which included a sampling of Herbie Hancock’s classic, “Chameleon.” Mike McDonald’s piano and lead vocals were key in providing the band with its soulful sound.

    The set continued with more long jams featuring guitar and bass solos that kept the crowd moving. “3 Ring Circus,” from their self-titled debut album featured Collin Jones of Hawea and Ocupanther on guitar as he displayed his mastery of guitar and manipulation his effects pedal. Don Nix’s song “Goin’ Down” was followed by an original, “Earthbound Tim”, with samples from Phish’s “Guyute.” The set wound down with another medley of “Pedro” and “Hottentot” by Medeski, Scofield, Martin, and Wood, finishing with two new originals titled “Rising Tide” and “Nu-Gen.” The small crowd sounded like well over 100 as they showed some love for the awesome performance.

    The New Daze Setlist

    Uncle Stremnf > Sloth Fingers % > Uncle Stremnf, Until September > Silly Me > When Prigs Fly, Sunroof Cop*, Pumpkins, Mike’s Song#, Don’t Touch My Tractor, Off Brand

    *The New Daze debut
    #with Mike McDonald of Formula 5 on keys
    % “Sir Psycho Sexy” tease
    entire set with Steve Graf on percussion

    Formula 5 Setlist

    Perch Above the Earth, The Fall#, Catch Me, The Ride -> 3 Ring Circus* -> Goin Down@ -> Earthbound Tim$, Pedro -> Hottentot^ -> Pedro, Rising Tide, Nu-Gen

    # “Chameleon” (Herbie Hancock) tease
    * with Collin Jones on guitar ( Haewa / OCUPANTHER)
    @ Don Nix Cover (Jeff Beck arrangement)
    $ “Guyute” (Phish) teases
    ^ Medeski, Scofield, Martin & Wood cover (partial)

  • The Whisky’s Magic on Eve to Adam

    They recently announced a tour with Escape the Fate for next month. Their hit single “Immortal” was named among Octane’s Top 25 hits for 2013. But in the twelve years Eve to Adam has been fighting to keep Rock alive, it hasn’t been all rainbows and sunshine. 2013 may be the year that launched these New York City rockers out of relative obscurity, and our Cathy Bechle recalls an October evening at Los Angeles’ legendary Whisky A Go Go, when the band stood upon the storied stage to promote Locked and Loaded – and perhaps capture the magic that helped catapult so many more careers.

    whiskey by mike dillon
    The Whisky A Go Go on Los Angeles’ Sunset Strip has been the launching pad for many a musical careers, including The Doors, Janis Joplin, Guns ‘N’ Roses, Metallica and Mötley Crüe. (Photo Credit: Mike Dillon/Wikipedia)
    Read more at NYS Music…

    Eve to Adam rocked in the nightclub Whisky A Go Go in West Hollywood, CA. This is a famous club located on Sunset Strip. October 15th, 2013 Eve to Adam took that famous stage and performed accordingly.  For Eve to Adam to show their skills and perform their music on this stage was awesome to see! Needless to say, to even go to this club is a cool feeling. Musical careers took off from their performances at this venue. Eve to Adam was about to play on the same stage that Alice Cooper, The Doors, Metallica’s bassist Cliff Burton (recruited by the band after seeing him play there), Neil Diamond, System of a Down had played on before!

    Axl Rose
    Axl Rose at The Whisky

    The energy on stage by each of the members was “on” for every song and every moment. The sound is best described as melodic hard rock and the vocals were powerful and spot on.

    The band played songs from their new release LOCKED & LOADED album which is a must for anyone of a fan of this style music must purchase (http://www.evetoadam.com/music.html). The fans were pumped and energized by each of the songs. Crowd favorite songs that were played of LOCKED & LOADED, IMMORTAL, STRAITJACKET SUPERMODEL and BENDER stand out but there was not one moment of a lull in the audiences focus on this band while they played.

    All songs that are on the LOCKED & LOADED album will become favorites for sure. It is one of those albums where it is hard to decide which your favorite song is. It is like your favorite movie that never gets old and you get new enjoyment each time you listen to it.  Videos that are stunning can be viewed at: http://www.evetoadam.com/videos.html and all music for your purchasing pleasure go to: http://www.evetoadam.com/music.html you will not be sorry!

    — at whisky a go-go.

    Michael Hallisey contributed to this article.

  • Celebrating the Winter Solstice in Style with Becca Frame and Brian Shafer

    What better way to spend the December 21st, the Winter Solstice, than with area favorites Becca Frame and Brian Shafer at the quaint watering hole in Delhi known as the Shire Pub! For those lucky enough to have arrived early, Becca handed out CDs from Esquela, another of her and Brian’s bands, as Christmas presents. To add to the home-town feel, Becca’s family was in attendance, and they were proudly and publicly welcomed.

    Although the band members mentioned that cover songs are what they typically get hired for, they always try to slip in some of their originals. (On a related note, Becca and Brian are currently working on recording an album with a working title of Short Stories and Tall Boys.) With Becca on vocals and Brian on guitar, their wide range of abilities and styles was demonstrated in their choice of cover tunes, which included a gospel-y rendition of “You’ll Accompany Me”, a twang-y version of “New York City’s Killing Me”, and a spacey take on “Fifty Ways to Leave Your Lover”.

    As promised, Becca and Brian did perform some of their own tunes, which showcased the raw, pure talent present in both performers. “Little Girl Sing” had a kind of sing-songy tone to it, while “Setting the Record Straight” demonstrated that this band can play the blues. At times forgetting that there was only one guitarist on stage, Brian does an incredible job of playing both the rhythm and melody sections over the full range of octaves. Becca puts all she has into every song, with the words sultry and soulful coming to mind when listening to her amazing voice. As an added bonus, one of Brian’s former bandmates Matt Sauer, from the band Wreckloose, joined Brian for a few tunes. They were super tight, and nailed the harmonies between their two guitars.

    Keep an eye out for Becca Frame and Brian Shafer – they are definitely worth checking out if they come to your area, which is entirely possible, as they are very active in the Upstate circuit. They are both good about keeping their facebook pages up-to-date with upcoming tour dates, so be sure to look for them on facebook.

  • Wynonna Makes a Big Noise at Turning Stone

    The Turning Stone showroom once again welcomed Wynonna and her band The Big Noise in a remarkable performance.  Touring right before Christmas, she stopped December 21st  just in time to share some Christmas tunes and personal stories of music, family, and friends with fans.

    Wynonna and The Big Noise
    Wynonna and The Big Noise

    Upon arriving to the show, one automatically felt at home, as her stage was set up as though it was her Christmas living room.  Wynonna is best known not only as a solo artist with numerous singles and duets, but also from her career with her mother during the 80’s as of half of the award winning  duo The Judds.  Her voice has a presence that makes itself known, as one of the strongest voices in country music.  However her choices in music this evening represented more of her roots in the Appalachian Mountain blue grass music she grew up with.  Her outgoing and comical personality shone through as she spoke to the audience of her relationships with her children, her family, and all of those she holds so dear putting them immediately at ease.  Her one on conversations with members of the audience further incorporated them as part of the show and not just observers.

    Wynonna and The Big Noise
    Wynonna and The Big Noise

    As she performed the most unique and perfect choices for the season, she narrated why she choose the numbers and the personal stories each number represented.  In one such narration, she spoke of a conversation with a lovely lady named Priscilla  who invited her to sing with her husband in a duet on his Christmas album.  The well known number, digitally mastered, was the amazing rendition of “Santa Claus is Back in Town” featuring Wynonna and Elvis Presley.

    Wynonna also shared her personal fears and sadness while telling the audience about the most horrific day as she witnessed her husband, Catcus Moser’s motorcycle crashed into an oncoming vehicle right in front of her. She shared her fear of not knowing if he would survive, and spoke of his prognosis once he had stabilized.  Doctors told them that they would not be able to save his leg and he probably wouldn’t be able to play again.  Despite what they said, Cactus  stood and joined her from behind the drums.  The crowd rose to a standing ovation as he showed off his new prostectic leg.  You could see that he was an individual who wrote his own story in life, and he wasn’t going to allow anyone to dictate what he could or could not accomplish.  Not only did he accompany her on drums, but they performed what I  have to say was my favorite number of the night when they sang “Baby It’s Cold Outside”.  Their musical  moment shared an insight into their personal relationship as they sang and laughed as though no one else was in the room.  To say it was special doesn’t quite cover the glimpse we saw at the love and friendship they share.  Truly one of the best renditions ever, and an inspirational moment to all.

    Catcus Moser of The Bit Noise
    Cactus Moser of The Big Noise

    Wynonna is truly a country legend.  With more than 20 number one singles, and numerous awards and nominations in the business one doesn’t doubt this.  However, what truly rises her above the others is her strength and perseverance to remain forever true to herself and her craft.  Through numerous ups and downs in her career and her life, her honesty shines through to those she performs for whether its through the lyrics of her music or the banter on stage with her bandmates and her audience.  Wynonna clearly makes a big noise and take center stage for those who are lucky enough to see her show.

  • The Chronicles Kick off Red Square Residency with the Songs of Stevie Wonder

    Kicking off a month-long residency at Red Square, The Chronicles paid tribute to the great Stevie Wonder, setting the tone for a month of musical tributes from Albany’s premier jazz/funk group. Opening up the night for The Chronicles was West End Blend, who set the tone with smooth hip hop sans the noise and rap without the frills. What was left was straight up funk and soul to open the night.

    chronicles stevie wonderWhen The Chronicles took the stage at 10:30, they opened with the Stevie Wonder instrumental “Contusion”, then invited Mike Thomas, lead singer of Albany’s Funk Evolution, to join the band as the featured vocalist this evening.  Channeling Stevie Wonder for the next hour, Thomas was a firebrand, raging through the uptempo “Sir Duke”, the soulful “Livin for the City”, nailing “Boogie on Reggae Woman” and mastering the wordplay of “Do I Do”. Throughout, the horn section, led by Bryan Brundige and Jeff Nania, blared in and out of each Stevie tune, adding a layer to the songs that no jamband can equal. Tyrone Hartzog sat in to sing “Bad Bad Bad” and revved up the crowd for the final songs of the night, all originals from The Chronicles. The music was spot on from all in the band and got the year of music at Red Square started on the right notes.

    chronicles stevie wonderCatch The Chronicles January 16th when they will pay tribute to John Coltrane, January 23rd with a full show of songs by Earth Wind and Fire (with opener Cedric Burnside) and January 30th with a tribute to the music of J. Dilla.

    Setlist: Contusion, Sir Duke, Superstition, Livin for the City > Higher Ground, Boogie on Reggae Woman, Masterblaster, I Wish, Do I Do, Bad Bad Bad, Tag, Strasbourg, Mr. Clean, Just Knew, Village Livin’

  • Central NY Welcomes Celtic Favorites Enter The Haggis

    Central New York  loves their Celtic music, whether it’s traditional or contemporary fans flock from all over the area to raise a pint and sing along.  One of their favorite bands includes Toronto based Enter The Haggis who recently made a pit stop at Syracuse’s Wescott Theater December 28th to close out the year.

    Enter The Haggis
    Enter The Haggis – Brian Buchanan & Trevor Lewington

    Comprised of five of the best musicians in the business, between them playing more than 15 instruments, they never cease to amaze me with their creativity and forward thinking.  After releasing many albums under a record label they bravely set out on their own to try new methods of funding by utilizing Kickstarter to fund their next project.  With a goal of $20,000 set, they never imagined they would reach it in a record breaking time of 12 hours.  By the end of the campaign they were able to raise more than $66,000 to fund their next album.  The next album, The Modest Revolution, was an amazing compilation of music made their way for their fans who would be happily surprised at the sounds and the stories of how each song was inspired.

    Enter The Haggis - Brian Buchanan
    Enter The Haggis – Brian Buchanan

    The Modest Revolution was a compilation of music and songs written solely through the muse of the Toronto’s, Globe and Mail, the local newspaper.  After bravely pre-ordering 1,500 copies of the March 30, 2012 edition, ETH was determined to read the news that day and write their entire next album based on the stories that inspired them from that periodical.  As one of the gutsiest and most creative muses I’ve ever seen, some of my favorite music evolved.  As a thank to you supporters through the campaign the band toured a few cities to hold listening parties once the album was released.  In March of 2013, ETH held one of the listening parties at the local Saranac Brewery in Utica.  The band first narrated the songs to the group with funny accolades of how each tune came to be.  They played unedited and final edits for the group and added personal stories that gave the group a sense of intimacy normally not achieved.  Funny stories, accounting of how each member added their own personal touch to the sound, and explanations of how an album is recorded were shared with the group to give them an understanding of what it takes to create an album.  As the group listened, a feeling of ownership as part of a team was apparent to those in attendance.

    2013 was the year to tour and promote this creation.  Opening this evening with Syracuse’s own Scottish Pipe Band definitely warmed up the crowd for a night of celtic jamming.  A full show of fan favorites included older tunes of “Noseworthy & Piercy”, “Getaway Car” and crowd favorite “Gasoline”, with a mix of new tunes of “Balto”, “Letters”, “Copper Leaves” and the rockabilly “Down the Line” from The Modest Revolution.  The playlist of music spans a decade or creativity and growth and their amazing range of talent and ability to create new and edgy music over the course of time.  However it’s the signature tunes that put Haggis Heads over the top.  Tunes such as “Litter and the Leaves”,  “Lancaster Gate” in which Craig rocks the stage with his amazing bagpipes, and “Lanigans Ball” where Trevor and Brian set the stage on fire that really truly hooks the audience each and every time.

    Enter The Haggis - Trevor Lewington & Mark Abraham
    Enter The Haggis – Trevor Lewington & Mark Abraham

    Never have I attended an ETH concert where they haven’t yet mesmerized the audience and converted all to what fans referred themselves as Haggis Heads.  True musicians and true performers and I must add, a great group of guys that love what they do and their fans that allow them to continue.  Always a show to remember.  Stay tuned for ETH’s next project being created currently through Kickstarter once again.  This project, The Black Penny Project, is inspired by fans this time.  Handwritten letters of their “stories” will become ETH’s next work of art.

    Meet the band:

    Brian Buchanan: Vocals, Fiddle, Keyboards, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar
    Enter The Haggis - Brian Buchanan
    Enter The Haggis – Brian Buchanan
    Craig Downie: Vocals, Highland Bagpipes, Trumpet, Harmonica, Whistle, Acoustic Guitar, Bells
    Enter The Haggis - Craig Downie
    Enter The Haggis – Craig Downie
    Trevor Lewington: Vocals, Acoustic Guitar, Electric Guitar, Octave Mandolin, Keyboards
    Enter The Haggis - Trevor Lewington
    Enter The Haggis – Trevor Lewington
    Mark Abraham: Bass Guitar, Vocals
    Enter The Haggis - Mark Abraham
    Enter The Haggis – Mark Abraham
    Bruce McCarthy: Drums, Percussion
    Enter The Haggis - Bruce McCarthy
    Enter The Haggis – Bruce McCarthy

  • Hearing Aide: Waydown Wailers “State of the Union”

    Woodstock Records’ new release of the Waydown Wailers and their debut album State of the Union is sure to be a successful premier for the new band. Waydown Wailers are a new mix of old sounds, bringing together classic rock and the blues with a jamband twist. Similar to other bands produced under the Woodstock Records label, the Wailers consists of soothing layered instrumentals paired with lyrics that some might call ‘Freedom Music.’ The band seems to have a variety of influences that range from the Grateful Dead to AC/DC, with music having anything from soft folk intros to twangy country guitar.

    Waydown Wailers State of the UnionThe Upstate New York band is a four man crew consisting of brothers Christian and Dave Parker on rhythm and lead guitar, Conner Pelkey playing bass, and Michael “Scruffy” Scriminger on drums. Dave Parker is the lead singer and songwriter of the group and his brother Christian says “Waydown Wailers wouldn’t have the same effect without my brother’s great ability to take a song and give it life.” The album was producer by Aaron Hurwitz, better known as Professor Louie of Professor Louie and the Crowmatix, veterans of Woodstock Records.

    The title track off the Waydown Wailers album starts with a classic Rock & Roll guitar riff joined by a driving rhythm section. “State of the Union” is exactly what it sounds like, a song about the current state of affairs in our country and the truth behind the politicians that run it. This is a freedom song from a past era, but the message is as relevant now than ever before. “The Man” is another story about the heartlessness of big government with a big guitar solo section that finishes the song in extremely energetic fashion and compensates for vocals that leave something to be desired. The closing song “My Girl”, is one of the highlights, from the debut album, although the vocals could be stronger, but the Jam-Rock sound the song provides is outstanding. Filled with funky bass and psychedelic guitar solos that sound like they belong in the festival scene, “My Girl”, is a perfect finish to a strong first album.

    Key Tracks: State of the Union, The Man, My Girl

    The Waydown Wailers new album can be found on iTunes and Amazon. You can follow or contact the band themselves through their website, Facebook and Twitter.

  • Benny Mardones – The Voice, The Advocate, Forever Timeless

    Benny Mardones, commonly referred to as “The Voice” because of his incredible vocal range, held his annual Christmas show on December 14th at the Turning Stone Showroom to a full crowd despite the blizzard conditions outside.  Dedicated fans traveled from all over the northeast to see him perform with his band, The Hurricanes and they were not disappointed.

    Benny Mardones at Turning Stone Showroom

    Benny’s best known for his album Never Run Never Hide in which songs such “Into the Night”, “She’s So French”, “Mighta Been Love”, and “American Bandstand” are a few of the songs most recall.  However Benny was well known within the industry for his writing long before Never Run Never Hide.   His amazing ability to put down on paper the emotions of so many is once again on the horizon.  In 2014 fans who supported Benny through his Kickstarter Campaign will be the first to receive his new album Timeless.  Fans that attended this show were treated to a few of the new songs as well as many of his most popular numbers.

    Central New York has become Benny’s home away home for numerous years due to the support the area has always given him throughout his career.  During highs and lows in his career and personal life, Benny has always remained in the hearts of those here in Central New York.  Over the course of the last three years, I have had the opportunity to photograph and meet with Benny and speak to him.

    One thing always resonates with me as I cover his shows and that is the fact that he is one of the most supportive individuals to others I have met in the industry.  Each year he plays in the area because CNY was always there for him.  I see him constantly giving back to the area and supporting individuals in the military, new artists that are up and coming from the area, a number of charitable causes, and foremost those fans that stayed with him in his darkest days.  He is truly an amazing musician and individual as he continues to play and perform despite personal illnesses and limitations he now suffers from.  He is truly and inspiration to those that know him, and for those that don’t know, he is one of musics greats and truly “Timeless.”

    Benny Mardones and The Hurricanes

  • Hearing Aide: Aqueous ‘Live Nugs Volume 4’

    Upon burning through all 73 minutes of the latest Live Nugs, there’s no doubt that these tracks are truly the headiest to date from Buffalo’s Aqueous. The Live Nugs series has been an avenue for the band to release a small but jam-packed collection of live original songs that are hand-picked from recent shows. Live Nugs Volume 4 was released on New Year’s Eve as the band played their 128th and final show of 2013 at The Crooked I in Erie, PA. The album consists of five tracks that were recorded during the band’s Fall tour and include selections from The Crooked I, The Shaskeen in Manchester, NH and The Saloon in Charlotte, NC. The time spent on the road has clearly paid off as the compilation is the tightest they’ve sounded and features some deep jams.

    Live Nugs 4 Cover Photo

    The album fades in with “Strange Times” from The Crooked I, beginning just as one of their shows might. A staple in their live sets, the song delivers immediately with the first jam. Employing the use of various effects, guitarists Mike Gantzer and David Loss build a spacey soundscape before pushing a heavy swell that has come to define their live shows. As it dies out, bassist Evan McPhaden fights a staccato guitar attack with some slap and pop of his own. Evans bass work throughout the album in general seems to provide a solid foundation for both guitarists to build on. His ability to accent and add to the overall rhythm that Nick Sonricker lays down on drums is a direct result of the countless hours they’ve played together now. The more you listen to this band, the more you realize why they’re winning over fans as quick as they are. Their sound is uniquely their own and they’re clearly not afraid to embrace it.

    The opening jam to “All In” is raw and reminiscent of Rage Against the Machine’s musical energy. After a minute and a half of forceful riffing, the song is reeled in by a sly guitar riff. The band manipulates the tempo of their songs so well and can completely pull the rug out from underneath you at the drop of a hat. Right around the 4:20 mark, the band runs into a thick patch of haze when the music progresses into a slow jam driven by Sonricker’s steady beat. As they carry it right through the next few minutes of the song, we hear Loss in the front of the mix on keyboard. The backing chords he provides under Gantzer’s captivating guitar solo is exactly why these two fit so well together; they’re always playing in perfect complement to one another. Gantzer’s solo starts around the twelve and a half-minute mark and is easily my favorite of the album. The two minutes are colored beautifully with a driving attack that somehow pushes faster and harder after the first minute in. The song’s final two minutes are wrapped up with a heavy, progressive rock style riffing that blazes forward in a flurry of notes before being stopped dead in its tracks.

    Gantzer’s true potential though is fully realized and experienced on “Complex.” He first takes lead over a mulling rhythm around six minutes in, pulling notes that send you soaring. He almost let’s go of the wheel completely, but pulls back for one last build up. As the song gets closer to the end, the overlapping tones combine for a rich texture and push the anticipation to the limit for the best ending on the album. The final three minutes of the song are blissfully perfect and almost make you lose yourself enough to feel like you’re hearing it live. We’ll all be paying quite a bit more to see these guys in the future if they keep finding these types of grooves to tear apart.

    press_photo

    This album, both collectively and on the individual song level, showcases an incredible vision that the guys in Aqueous have grown to embrace. They might’ve had to make some sacrifices to be out on the road as much as they were, but it’s really paid off as you can hear how much they’ve matured as musicians since the previous Live Nugs. This year is sure to be a fruitful one as they continue to build on the momentum they established last year. The band was the top pick of Upstate’s Best Bands on the Rise in 2013 for a reason, and they’ll only continue that ascent with the drive that has gotten them where they are today. As the last notes ring out, I’m left with a feeling that maybe one day we’ll look back on this album as a major turning point in the band’s history. Only time will tell.

    Key Tracks: All In, Complex

    Buy the new album now at the Aqueous Bandcamp page.

    [soundcloud url=”https://api.soundcloud.com/tracks/127580768″ params=”color=ff6600&auto_play=false&show_artwork=true” width=”100%” height=”166″ iframe=”true” /]

  • Iced Earth’s Plagues of Babylon out the 21st

    With Iced Earth‘s Plagues of Babylon screaming in my ears, I was taken back in time to my cousins’ bedroom, lying underneath posters of  muscle cars and Heather Thomas as we listened to tape cassettes of Megadeth and Dio.

    Iced Earth's Plagues of Babylon is scheduled for release next Tuesday, Jan. 21st.
    Iced Earth’s Plagues of Babylon is scheduled for release next Tuesday, Jan. 21st. (Photo Credit: Century Media)

    Plagues of Babylon is scheduled for release on Tuesday, January 21st, and it will mark the band’s 11th studio album since forming in 1985.  (Century Media announced that 500 hand-numbered, bootleg copies of the LP are available today, Jan. 14 at select record stores.) Guitarist and song writer, Jon Schaffer, has been with the band since the very beginning, and that early day influence is ever-present in the music.

    Today, metal plays in an underground environment and has more in common with college radio than Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 Countdown.  But, speak to anyone in heavy metal, and he or she is likely to reminisce over the heyday of the 80s and early 90s, when the genre had a voice on MTV, and shared play time across the nation’s Top 40 stations.  Iced Earth retains the very signature of what made the sound so popular back then: Melodic lyrics, precision guitar play, epic solos – all of which seem to be forgotten in today’s core mentality.

    Plagues of Babylon is the follow up to the band’s 2011 album Dystopia, and is the first to feature both bassist Luke Appleton and drummer Raphael Saini.

    Saini puts on a textbook display of how to play drums, which his abilities seem to shine the most on the CD’s fifth track, “Resistance”, where the song transitions between classic, military marching style to a full-out, heavy metal solo.

    Frontman Stu Block returns as the band’s lead vocalist, after making his debut under Dystopia.  His succinct delivery of each lyric, with an embellishment you’d come to recognize, perfectly compliments the overall sound of the band.

    As mentioned before, Iced Earth has a sound that now contrasts with the contemporary scene, and that is defined mainly due to the band’s two guitarists.  Schaffer and Appleton do not thrash, but play precisely and cleanly.  And, of course, I welcome the always appropriate guitar solo.  “Cthulhu” (not to be confused with Metallica), was a quick favorite because of all these reasons.

    Iced Earth has amassed a strong following over the nearly 30 years of their collective lives.  Those souls are destined to purchase the album next week; however, for those of you not familiar, or are just getting into the music, you are obligated to listen. Whether you’re of Generation X or younger, Plagues of Babylon is the very definition of heavy metal.

    Iced Earth is to launch a two-month, North American tour in April, along with Sabaton and Revamp; details are below.

    APRIL:

    04: Grand Rapids, MI – The Intersection

    05: Milwaukee, WI – The Rave

    06: Chicago, IL – House Of Blues

    07: Minneapolis, MN – First Avenue

    09: Pittsburgh, PA – Stage AE

    10: Columbus, OH – Newport Music Hall

    11: Cleveland, OH – Agora Ballroom

    12: Detroit, MI – St. Andrews Hall

    14: Toronto, ONT – Phoenix Concert Theatre

    15: Quebec City, QC – Imperial Theater

    16: Montreal, QC – Corona Theatre

    17: Philadelphia, PA – The Trocadero

    18: New York, NY – Best Buy Theater

    19: Worcester, MA – The Palladium

    21: West Springfield, VA – Empire

    23: Atlanta, GA – The Masquerade
    24: Orlando, FL – House Of Blues Orlando
    25: Fort Lauderdale, FL – Revolution
    26: Saint Petersburg, FL – State Theatre
    28: Houston, TX – Scout Bar
    29: Dallas, TX – Trees
    MAY:
    01: Tempe, AZ – Club Red
    02: West Hollywood, CA – House Of Blues Sunset
    03: San Francisco, CA – Slim’s
    05: Spokane, WA – Knitting Factory Concert House
    06: Seattle, WA – El Corazon
    07: Vancouver, BC – The Venue
    09: Edmonton, AB – The Starlite Room
    10: Calgary, AB – Republik
    11: Regina, SK – Riddell Centre
    12: Winnipeg, MB – Park Theatre
    14: Denver, CO – The Summit Music Hall
    15: Albuquerque, NM – Sunshine Theater
    16: Oklahoma City, OK – Diamond Ballroom