Hard Rock Reviews
As much as I like to call myself and this site Kevy Metal, my journey into music actually began with hard rock. Seventies and nineties hardrock – plus contemporary bands inspired by these styles – are still a significant part of what I listen to, and therefore, Album of the Week reviews on hard rock bands are published frequently. You can find all of them right here. Overlaps with my heavy metal reviews inevitably exist.
Looking for something specific, but can’t find it by browsing the reviews? Searching by artist name or release title using the search bar might bring up some Album of the Week reviews I have written before I started tagging my reviews properly.
-
Album of the Week 47-2015: Galneryus – Reincarnation
Original singer Yama-B’s final album with Japanese Power Metal masters Galneryus is one of their most controversial releases. The album is more experimental in nature than any of their previous records – which have all been more or less straight up Power Metal – and that may put off some…
-
Album of the Week 43-2015: Stryper – Fallen
Almost exactly two years ago, ‘No More Hell To Pay’ took me by surprise. I have always had great respect for Stryper as musicians – and Michael Sweet as a singer in particular – but none of the albums released since their reunion early this century as quite as consistent…
-
Album of the Week 41-2015: Black Sabbath – Heaven And Hell
Black Sabbath of course has a legendary status in the pantheon of Heavy Metal based on their first six albums with Ozzy Osbourne on vocals alone. And rightfully so. But none of Black Sabbath’s albums are so amazing all the way through as ‘Heaven And Hell’, which was recorded with…
-
Album of the Week 40-2015: Amorphis – Under The Red Cloud
Consistency is key in Amorphis’ career. The Finnish sextet has hardly released any subpar records and although the stylistic detours of the first half of their discography are in the past, you can always depend on the band to come up with a well-crafted record. ‘Under The Red Cloud’ is…
-
Album of the Week 39-2015: Iron Maiden – The X Factor
Blaze Bayley’s tenure with Iron Maiden – or the other way around, if you will – has been unjustly overlooked and therefore, I’d like to shed some light on Bayley’s epic debut with the British Heavy Metal legend. ‘The X Factor’ has often been named Maiden’s worst record, but that…
-
Album of the Week 36-2015: Iron Maiden – The Book Of Souls
Out of last week’s releases, there was one obvious choice for Album of the Week: Iron Maiden’s brand new double album ‘The Book Of Souls’. Not just because it’s a new album by a legendary Heavy Metal band, but also because it’s remarkably good. Opinions on the band’s output after…
-
Album of the Week 30-2015: Vamps – Bloodsuckers
Entertaining is something that Vamps has always been. Their choruses are easy to shout along, their rhythms are surprisingly danceable for a band so loud and the band doesn’t shy away from a little fanservice, which I find laughable rather than rousing, but entertaining nonetheless. I just haven’t been able…
-
Album of the Week 27-2015: Kyuss – Blues For The Red Sun
Europe’s current heatwave inspired me to pick up what is arguably the best music for hot weather in Rock history. Because really, the desert is everywhere on Kyuss’ sophomore album. I can see why Kyuss has always preferred the term Desert Rock instead of Stoner Rock; the incredibly heavy, trance-like…
-
Album of the Week 25-2015: Masterplan – Masterplan
When drummer Uli Kusch and guitarist Roland Grapow were simultaneously fired from Helloween, they wasted no time and started Masterplan. Since their shared tenure in Helloween is my favorite period in the German Power Metal giants’ history, I was eagerly awaiting this debut release at the time. It wasn’t quite…
Kevy Metal 