Fozzy
Chasing the Grail
Riot
65:07 – 12 Tracks
Another new release from what was supposed to be a one time release?  Or I’m remembering it wrong… anyway… this project has for the most part put out pretty catchy songs with a variety of heaviness and just good old rock songs.  Rich Ward has always been great at writing great, catchy  hard rock/metal songs.  This album is no different.  Some songs get really heavy, some are just good old Hard Rock.  Worthy of a listen!  http://www.fozzyrock.com/

Mnemic
Sons of the System
Nuclear Blast
52:28 – 11 Tracks
Usually a pretty good band here… the last album wasn’t so great… but they kind of have a bit of the Gothenburg sound going on, but heck, they’re from Denmark… it’s still the same area of the world… however, it’s a bit more melodic and industrial than the tr00 Gothenburg stuff.  Still has a good edge to it and nice and catchy!  http://www.mnemic.com/

Free Reign
Tragedy
Riot
19:12 – 5 Tracks
Interesting… this is a metal band featuring members of the Dallas Cowboys (Marc Colombo, Cory Procter and Leonard Davis)  Crazy, eh?  It’s a pretty standard metal, with some cool chugga chugga parts… However, for the most part, it’s just more or less a “solid rock” record with a few heavier leanings. http://www.myspace.com/freereign

A Hero A Fake
Let Oceans Lie
Victory
59:59 – 11 Tracks
As I mentioned last week, you kind of know what a Victory band will sound like… but lately, you just never know.  This band has a bit of the emo-screamo hardcore going on, then goes into the mellow stuff that sounds like the whimpy parts in a Mudvayne song.    So it goes from pretty awesome cool stuff to some icky whiney ballady stuff.   I’m torn on this one… the cool parts are really way cool and catchy… but the whiney stuff turns me off…. but I guess I’ll decide it’s in the good enough for airplay category!

W.A.S.P.
Babylon
Global
43:26 – 9 Tracks
Well, this sounds like a classic WASP album!   Well produced, a bit catchy,  heavy and well, classic WASP.  The Deep Purple “Burn” cover rivals the coolness of “The Real Me” from the Headless Children.  Blackie knows how to keep the classic sound! http://www.waspnation.com/

Rob Zombie
Hellbilly Deluxe 2
Roadrunner
46:11 – 11 Tracks
Hey, it’s Zombie… he’s back!   And you know what?  After all these years, the sound is still what you’d expect.  Electronic-ish distorted guitar sound, catchy bouncy songs… and Zombies trademark vocals.  John 5 still on guitars… as with the WASP album this week… you know what you’re gonna get!  http://www.robzombie.com/

Dream Evil
In The Night
Century Media
46:31 – 12 Tracks
This is really how power metal should sound these days… Yes, good powerful clean vocals are already a given… but the music on a lot of this genre lately has just been watered down… These guys have a bit of an edge to it… some balls and chunk… big guitar solos, big metal sound… all over the top… but not TOO much like some of the Epic symphonic stuff.  This is just right.  http://www.dreamevil.se/