Anthrax - Greater of Two Evils CD

Greater of Two Evils songs For 2004's THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED, vocalist/guitarist Dave Mustaine reunites Megadeth -- original guitarist Chris Poland along with new members bassist Jimmie Lee Sloas and drummer Vinnie Colaiuta -- for the band's first new studio album in three years. Frontman/songwriter Mustaine has a lot on his mind, as he ruminates on many of the political and social ills troubling the world, and his words are delivered over grooves and riffs reminiscent of mid-period Megadeth (circa COUNTDOWN TO EXTINCTION). The overall sound is fresh and energetic, and Mustaine conjures memorable licks, particularly when he trades blazing solos with Poland, as on "Die Dead Enough" and the fierce old-school thrash of "Back in the Day." Mustaine also spices SYSTEM with a number of extra sonic flourishes -- including strings, banjo and keyboards -- making it an unusually intriguing metal record. Personnel: Dave Mustaine (vocals, guitar); Lance Dean, Robert Venable, Scott Harrison, Ralph Patlan (vocals); Justis Mustaine (spoken vocals); Chris Poland (guitar); Jonathan Yudkin (banjo, strings); Tim Akers, Charles Judge (keyboards); Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass guitar); Vinnie Colaiuta (drums); Eric Darken (percussion); Michael Davis (sound effects); Chris Rodriguez (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Jeff Balding. Recording information: Emerald ENtertainment, Nashville, TN; OceanWay; Phase Four Studios, Tempe, AZ. Megadeth includes: Dave Mustaine (vocals, guitar); Chris Poland (guitar); Jimmie Lee Sloas (bass); Vinnie Colaiuta (drums). Megadeth: Chris Poland, Dave Mustaine, Michael Davis , Jimmie Lee Sloas, Vinnie Colaiuta. Additional personnel: Jonathan Yudkin (keyboards); Chris ...

Greater of Two Evils CD music Iron Maiden rose from humble beginnings in London's gritty East End to become one of the most successful and influential bands of the new wave of British heavy metal. Formed in 1976 by bass player Steve Harris, Maiden's ferocious blend of hard riffs and macabre subject matter earned them a cult following that culminated in the release of their self-titled 1980 debut. But it was the arrival of near-operatic lead singer Bruce Dickinson that propelled the band to worldwide fame with their third and breakthrough album, 1982's THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST. This documentary chronicles Iron Maiden through these early years and lineup changes, offering interviews with band members, promo videos, television appearances, and a series of rare live performances from early-80s concerts at The Rainbow, Hammersmith Odeon, Ruskin Arms, and Germany's Rock and Pop Festival. This 2-DVD set chronicles the first part of the Iron Maiden story - from their beginnings as a group of teenagers in London's East End through their huge breakthrough third album, The Number Of the Beast. Included is a fantastic collection of rare and previously unavailable live footage, TV appearances and promos, and a feature-length documentary with band member and other Maiden collaborator interviews. Rare footage includes Live at the Rainbow (1981), Beast Over Hammersmith (1982), Live in Dortmund (1983), Live at the Ruskin, and Heavy Metal (1981).

Greater of Two Evils buy CD music There's something about a post-millennium album cover that features a giant blue-horned minion of Satan in pre-pounce with an illuminated crystal ball in its leathery hand that simply warms the soul, and the fact that it adorns a record called Master of the Moon can mean only one thing: Dio. Unlike many in the aging metal community, Ronnie James Dio still possesses the same powerful voice that fueled the genre through its late-'70s and '80s heydays, and the reigning dark prince of Elfdom and two-time Black Sabbath frontman is still capable of writing a killer song or two. MOTM resembles earlier works like Last in Line and Sacred Heart in its ability to buffer those one or two great tracks with seven or eight forgettable ones. Luckily, it's the first one out of the gate, "One More for the Road," that packs the biggest wallop. Similar in attack to classics like "We Rock" and "Stand Up and Shout," it sets a breakneck pace for a record that gives up just minutes after the firing of the start gun. What follows is a series of midtempo rockers outfitted with RJD's generic fantasy lyrics about dreams, evil, and being "stronger than the wind," which flirt with creative arrangements and forward-thinking key changes, only to concede to the dark lord of banality. There are moments that inspire, like the snaky Brian May-like riff that weaves through the title track, and the surprisingly political, melodic, and complex "The Man Who Would Be King" -- in true RJD fashion he references the Middle Eastern community as "the people of the sand" -- is among his most satisfying since 1987's "All the Fools Sailed Away," but Dio's on autopilot for the record's majority, resulting in a mediocre romp through the ruins of a land and a time that hath been long forgotten. ~ James Christopher Monger Dio: Ronnie James Dio (vocals); Craig Goldy (guitar, keyboards); Scott Warren (keyboards); Jeff Pilson (bass instrument); Simon Wright (drums).

Greater of Two Evils album for sale Despite having seen many lineup changes since their early-1980s inception (their only original member being guitarist Gary Holt), thrash metal mavens Exodus have managed to maintain a consistently raw, violent sound. Their ninth studio album is perhaps their most aggressive yet, featuring 10 exercises in headlong metal assault, propelled by drummer Paul Bostaph's ferocious twin kick-drum attack as well as the dual guitars of Holt and Lee Altus, locked together in a frenzy of shredding. Exodus: Robert Dukes (vocals); Gary Holt, Lee Altus (guitar); Jack Gibson (bass guitar); Paul Bostaph (drums).

Greater of Two Evils CD music Given up for dead over a decade earlier, the mighty Exodus -- the original kings of thrash metal -- made an unexpected but long-rumored return in 2004 with the release of their sixth studio album, Tempo of the Damned. But what had been intended as a long-awaited reunion of their seminal Bonded by Blood lineup was tragically thwarted with the sudden death of vocalist Paul Baloff in early 2002. Fittingly, Baloff was duly supplanted by none other than Steve "Zetro" Souza, the man who'd replaced him in the first place and who had gone on to sing on every Exodus album thereafter, including their mid-period thrash classic Fabulous Disaster. Of course the fact that Souza was clearly the better and more reliable vocalist (albeit not as fun a character as Baloff) should not be overlooked, and with the welcome involvement of long-gone founding drummer Tom Hunting, Tempo of the Damned still serves as quite the family reunion. It also doesn't disappoint musically, picking up the pieces right where the band's star-crossed career had fallen apart 11 years earlier with the underrated Force of Habit, and turning in a performance that is, at once, vintage Exodus and mindful of modern recording standards as well. All of the old, much loved Exodus hallmarks are here: lyrics filled with biting, sarcastic social commentary; no-fuss, jagged thrash metal; and unparalleled technical precision. As has always been the case, it's the dazzling six-string tag team of Rick Hunolt and Gary Holt (quite simply the tightest rhythm guitar duo in the history of thrash -- Slayer included) that truly drives the Exodus bullet train over lightning runs like "Scar Spangled Banner" and the wonderfully retro-named "Impaler." Their solos are as musical as the riffing is not, and, as heard on excellent examples like "Shroud of Urine" and "Forward March," always typified by inventiveness without excess pyrotechnics. About the only deviation from the band's tried and true formula of old comes in the shape of Souza's more varied vocal styles, including a less whiny, wholly uncharacteristic full-throated death roar for the standout "War Is My Shepherd." Tempo of the Damned's second half isn't quite as memorable, the likes of "Sealed with a Fist" and "Throwing Down" suffering from the same sort of aimless riffage that had mired disappointing earlier efforts like Pleasures of the Flesh and Impact Is Imminent, but "Culling the Herd" manages to buck this trend with plenty of fireworks, and the title track still moshes with a vengeance. Taken as a whole, Tempo of the Damned successfully resurrects Exodus as the potent and formidable thrash machine of old. The fact that they are well aware of their strengths, and content to stick with them to the end, is what makes this such a welcome release for the band's loyal followers, as well as younger fans looking to understand what got heavy metal where it is today. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia Thrash metal titans and pioneers of the Bay Area Thrash scene, Exodus, have returned with the comeback record of the decade, Tempo Of The Damned! Ten tracks with a slipcase. Nuclear Blast. 2004. Recording information: Prairie Sun Studio, Cotati, CA; Tsunami Studios, Moss Beach, CA. Photographer: Friso Gentsch. Personnel: Steve Souza (vocals); Gary Holt, Rick Hunolt (guitar); Tom Hunting (drums). Audio Mixer: Andy Sneap.

Greater of Two Evils buy CD music "Never underestimate the heart of a champion" may as well have been the unspoken moral behind Kreator's astounding return to form via 2001's Violent Revolution, following over a decade of "wilderness study" in non-thrash terrain. As well as revitalizing the band's career the album clearly helped main man Mille Petrozza make peace with his past, and set the stage for his band's wisely retro-minded direction going forward into the new millennium. Cue 2005's Enemy of God: not only Kreator's next shot at revitalizing old-school thrash metal for modern generations, but a necessary building block to sustaining their unexpected renaissance. And as the pummeling opening title track's timeless thrashing proceeds to detonate everything in sight, indeed all appears to be well and good in the Kreator camp's future. Of course, no matter how forceful and successful this initial assault, the inevitable irony of Kreator's decision to stay the course on Enemy of God is that it invariably doesn't sound quite as fresh as its direct predecessor. But in terms of those other, all-important attributes: intensity of attack and quality songwriting -- the results are almost identically inspired, more often than not. Simply witness the blinding solos and masterful twin harmonies that pepper instant neo-thrash classics "World Anarchy" and "When Death Takes Its Dominion" for proof that this is Kreator at their tightest, devastating best. Not to be outdone, additional speed-fests such as "Impossible Brutality" and "Suicide Terrorist" basically speak for themselves, and even the more sedate acoustic guitar twangs introducing "Voices of the Dead," "Dying Race Apocalypse," and "The Ancient Plague" offer but small relief from the album's decapitating onslaught. And, all things considered, it's a testament to Petrozza and company's creative acumen that such savagery never descends into repetitive overkill. In short, although Kreator remain staunch Enem[ies] of God, it's nice to see they are still faithful friends to thrash metal fans everywhere. ~ Eduardo Rivadavia Initial pressings of ENEMY OF GOD include a bonus DVD. Kreator: Mille Petrozza (vocals, guitar); Sami Yli-Sirniö (guitar); Christian Giesler (bass guitar); Jürgen Reil (drums). Audio Mixer: Andy Sneap. Recording information: Backstage Recordings (05/2004-07/2004). Photographer: Harald Hoffmann.