I am blessed because I witnessed this metal legend live back in the days in Austria, I am pretty sure it was 1999. Ronnie James Dio. What to say about him? The man, the legend, for me one of the best vocals and voices rock music ever had and will ever have. I was waiting for this movie since the day it was announced with early trailers. This man was responsible for metal horn sing, you know the one, with your hand, that all metalheads around the world use till this day. It was in fact sign against evil curses that his Italian grandmother used to make when she felt something threatening to her family. The movie describes Dio’s beginnings from his early r’n’b and doo wop singing abilities, to Elf and Richie Blackmore and Rainbow, then coming to Black Sabbath when practically no one believed that he will be able to fill in Ozzy’s shoes. Afterwards, his career peak with solo band, Holy Diver, full arenas and tours to nineties which broke hearts and put metal as underdogs. From all the hardships and heartbreaks, to return with Heaven & Hell, this man earned status of eternal metal legend. Small in height, but his voice is still soaring from metal afterlife, although he passed away from cancer, his legacy will never die. Excellent movie.
Germany has been always great black metal scene and Wolfmond Production brings us some really awesome releases. This time it is a new opus by Lost Shade. This is their fourth full length opus being in the scene since 1999. This opus contains ten songs. Music of Lost Shade is fast and kind of raw black metal, but also song structures have some epic warrior battle melodies, with lyrics more oriented towards pagan side of things. Vocals are black metal screaming, not too extreme but I can also hear some chanting and some spoken word in some songs depending on the atmosphere. As I said, this is black battle pagan metal par excellence. Lyrics are in German, but I understand the language so my personal favorites on this one are Ewige Vergeltung, great epic song with such eerie piano song ending, also Hexentanz and Leichenmarsch. It kind of reminds me of old school Mystic Circle in its epicness, but without synth and symphonic passages. Good epic pagan battle black metal.
This book is in fact a fine collection of eighties photos of more and less known hardcore punk bands in action, capturing all the intensity and energy that only hardcore punk show can provide. All of the fantastic photos are done by great Anne Ullrich and foreword and comments to the bands are done by Lee Hollis known as a singer for legendary hardcore punk band Spermbirds. I enjoyed seeing those photos, but I also enjoyed reading Lee’s comments because they are sometimes so full of black humor and sarcasm, sometimes you can see in him that little hardcore kid with shining eyes that we all still are. Great monography, great book and I really enjoy to have it in my collection. Hardcore lives!
KRAYKULLA-WEBZINE 