Searching For Something...

Random Thoughts & The Search For Something New...

Have you ever had one of those weeks that time slips away in a flash of work, family and everything else random that comes along... I've had a few of those, which is why this is late...again.  My goal is to have one every week, if nothing else to list the new releases for those who don't troll the boards at Amazon.com, NEH Records, Melodicrock.com, Detritus or The Artists Shop... [all great ways to find out new stuff and hear about coming releases, as well in some cases, picking those up if you don't have a local store that caters to your tastes... So...this week was of course one of those crazy weeks and what I found myself feeling is musically lost. 

There have been some excellent new releases that have hit my collection recently including the Dio tribute, Lacuna Coil, Delain, Within Temptation, Adrenaline Mob, Primal Fear and House Of Lords... and that given you would think that after devouring all of them I would be somewhat satisfied as they are all excellent releases...and yet I felt like something was missing... The hunt for something new had been replaced by just keeping up with the catalogs of bands I like...and it felt like I needed to sink my teeth into something new... and it wasn't until I stumbled onto another new [for me] band that I realized it wasn't gone... just misplaced...

So...what prompted my rejuvenation of faith?... If you follow this at all you know I'm a huge fan of progressive rock and metal, but you may not have known I'm also a sucker for a good remake... not the cheesy stuff, but an honest cover of a song with the band giving the song it's own touches... So... simply by checking out new releases for this week I came across a new release from a band called Anubis Gate...they have a new record "Horizons" out today the 15th... As with all my research on a new [to me] band I came across the Nightmare Records website and they had a 3 song free mp3 download called "Sheep" from Anubis Gate [the link is listed in the video]...the first track being "Destined To Remember" off their new release, and the second and third tracks are covers... So I thought I would dive in... 

The 2nd track is "Sheep"...and yes...it's Pink Floyd...and it's well done... the second was a fan request and it's Mr. Mister's "Broken Wings" and they do a great job as well... I'll be checking out more from this band and will most likely grab the new release and the back catalog as well...I had the same feeling when I came across Threshold's "March Of Progress" and Circus Maximus' "Nine"...and now those records are all time favorites of mine... So...even if it's not something Earth shattering but just a piece of music that moves you... then that spark is still there... and this EP is in constant rotation until I can devour the record... So...hope springs eternal...

And Now...For This Week's Sonic Flashback...

Whitesnake - Whitesnake
Released April 7, 1987

David Coverdale - Vocals
John Sykes - Guitar
Neil Murray - Bass
 Aynsley Dunbar - Drums
Adrian Vandenberg - Guitar Solo on "Here I Go Again"

with Guests:
Don Airey - Keyboards
Bill Cuomo - Keyboards on "Here I Go Again"
Dann Huff - Guitar on "Here I Go Again" [Radio Mix]
Denny Carmassi - Drums on "Here I Go Again"
Vivian Campbell - Guitar Solo on "Give Me All Your Love" ['88 Remix] 

It was the album that spawned cartwheels on Jaguars... and put Whitesnake in the running as one of the top hard rock bands in the world in 1987 [and it was the first of a trio of landmark releases, followed by "Appetite For Destruction" and "Hysteria"]... And given all the turmoil surrounding the album, it's merits certainly outweigh all the drama that ensued...

If you listen to the '84 release "Slide It In" you will find an outstanding rock record that is more blues based, where when you listen to "Whitesnake" [titled "1987" in Europe [which had a different running order and 2 extra tracks which would end up on the "Greatest Hits"], and "Serpens Albus" in Japan] you find full on arena rock with flourishes of Zeppelin with bigger guitars and bigger arrangements...and the differences all begin with the fact that the only permanent member is singer David Coverdale.  The band that recorded "Slide It In" had completely changed by the time the writing began for "Whitesnake"... 

The original band on UK mix of "Slide It In" consisted of Coverdale,  original guitarist Micky Moody and  former Trapeze guitarist Mel Galley, bassist Colin Hodgkinson [Schon & Hammer/Cozy Powell Band], Deep Purple keyboardist Jon Lord, and drummer Cozy Powell [R.I.P.] [Jeff Beck/Rainbow/Cozy Powell's Hammer]... The record was then remixed for the U.S. market by Keith Olson and by that time, Hodgkinson had been fired and replaced by original Whitesnake bassist Neil Murray, and Moody, who had left the band, was replaced by Thin Lizzy's John Sykes.  Both Murray and Sykes replaced their respective parts on the U.S. version [and Bill Cuomo was brought in to add keyboards to the mix...]  The remix was done to give the album more dynamics and eventually went on to sell 2 million copies in America...

While on the tour for "Slide It In", guitarist Mel Galley had gotten injured and became unable to play the guitar, and Jon Lord left to rejoin the MK II line-up of Deep Purple for the "Perfect Strangers" album.  After the last show of the tour, Cozy Powell left as well, leaving the writing team of Coverdale/Sykes/Murray to begin work on the next record.   After multiple auditions, Coverdale chose Frank Zappa/Jefferson Starship/Journey drummer Aynsley Dunbar to replace Powell...and it was this 4 piece [with some added help from keyboard player Bill Cuomo and a solo on "Here I Go Again" from Adrian Vandenberg] that recorded the record with the songs written by Coverdale and Sykes...but again...not so simple...

David Coverdale then came down with a sinus infection that required surgery and a six month rehabilitation, setting production schedules back indefinitely.  Sykes, who was growing impatient, suggested the band move on with a new singer, which in turn soured the relationship he had with Coverdale, and would lead to his departure [where he would then form his own band Blue Murder with Carmine Appice [Vanilla Fudge/King Kobra] on drums and Tony Franklin [The Firm] on bass...].  By the time the album was released, Coverdale had fired the remaining members...so we have an album...and no band...

The band issue was soon resolved and Coverdale enlisted Vandenberg, who was in the running to join the band, Dio guitarist Vivian Campbell, Ozzy/Quiet Riot bassist Rudy Sarzo and Black Oak Arkansas/Ozzy drummer Tommy Aldridge.  It is this line-up that appears in all the videos for the record.  Two tracks from the '82 album "Saints & Sinners" were used on the record, "Crying In The Rain" and "Here I Go Again", which also was remixed for radio, removing the keyboard intro and has a re-recorded guitar solo courtesy of White Heart/Giant guitarist Dann Huff, and drums by Montrose/Sammy Hagar/Heart's Denny Carmassi... [Campbell also adds guitar to the remix of "Give Me All Your Love" on the video remix...]

The album spawned four singles and was all over radio and MTV... and at the heart of it all is the amazing David Coverdale... from his first gig with Deep Purple, to his solo work, to Whitesnake and beyond, you will not find a harder working individual with a clear idea of what he wants and what it takes to achieve it.  Whitesnake are still out there thrilling audiences and since their 2002 reformation recorded "Good To Be Bad" in 2008 and "Forevermore" in 2011... Last year they released two live records "Made In Japan" and "Made In Britain/The World Record", both of which highlighted the classics and introduced material from their last two records.   The current line-up includes of course Coverdale, Hurricane/Lion/House Of Lords/Dio guitarist Doug Aldrich, returning drummer Tommy Aldridge, Winger/The Mob guitarist Reb Beach, bassist Michael Devin and keyboardist Brian Ruedy... so if you can catch them on tour, you will not be disappointed... 

And my only complaint... in the song "1985", by Bowling For Soup, it states she was going to "shake her ass, on the hood of Whitesnake's car" ... referring to the videos featuring Coverdale's then wife Tawny Kitaen... and if they were paying attention, the album wouldn't be out for another 2 years... revisionist history strikes again!!...  but I digress... Crank this up!...

New Releases... Coming Soon...To A Medium Near You!!...

Black Label Society - Catacombs Of The Black Vatican

Zakk Wylde and company are back... and the reviews so far are excellent... A good balance between the hard rock and the acoustic numbers... [Entertainment One Music] [Out 4/8]

Delain - The Human Contradiction

Following up their 2012 release "We Are The Others" is Dutch symphonic metallers Delain with "The Human Contradiction"... Catchy melodies and the wonderful voice of Charlotte Wessels... I saw this band open for Kamelot last year and they really were outstanding.  A great talent... [Napalm Records] [Out 4/8]

Anette Olzon - Shine

Former Nightwish/Alyson Avenue vocalist Anette Olzon is back with her first solo outing "Shine".  After her departure from Nightwish she went to work on the solo material that would become "Shine"... A theme of light overcoming dark and a sound that's more pop-metal than symphonic... it's something that showcases her voice and doesn't stick to one style... [Eagle Rock Entertainment] [Out 4/8]

Sevendust - Time Travellers & Bonfires

Sevendust return with an acoustic album... 6 new tracks and re-recorded classics... [7brothers Records] [Out 4/15]

Tuomas Holopainen - Music Inspired By The Life And Times Of Scrooge

Nightwish's leader, keyboardist and songwriter Toumas Holopainen goes solo with an album based on the Walt Disney graphic novel "The Life And Times Of Scrooge McDuck"... [Nuclear Blast America] [Out 4/15]

Gamma Ray - Empire Of The Undead

They lost their studio to a fire but that wasn't enough to stop this German power metal band led by former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen... Their latest is "Empire Of The Undead" and according to Hansen...will be more "thrashy"... [Eagle Rock Enterainment] [Out 4/15]

Black Sabbath - The Complete Albums 1970-1978

Rhino Records combines the first 8 Black Sabbath albums with Ozzy on vocals... "Black Sabbath" through "Never Say Die!"... a great way to get caught up on the classics from some of heavy metal's founding fathers... [Rhino Records] [Out 4/15]

Anubis Gate - Horizons

Danish prog-metallers Anubis Gate return as a 4 piece as their lead singer left and they replaced him with their existing bass player who previously sang backup... If you've made it this far into the blog...you've heard the first single "Destined To Remember"... [Nightmare Records] [Out 4/15]

And Now...For This Week's Gratuitious 80's Hair-Metal Video...

Lynch Mob - Wicked Sensation...

Thanks For Coming Along For The Ride...

J.