Edguy – Tinnitus Sanctus
Nuclear Blast Records

(4.5/5)

Continuing the traditional Heavy metal/Power metal sound of bands such as Iced Earth, Helloween, Blind Guardian, and Iron Maiden, Edguy has created another great example of this style of music titled Tinnitus Sanctus. Although Tinnitus Sanctus is the first Edguy album I have heard, it will certainly not be the last! The musical and lyrical genius known as Tobias Sammet has arranged an insanely good album as well as lead this band with his Opera-like vocals. With a vocal range not too high for the music and certainly not too low, Tobias really pushes the sound of Edguy over the edge. Even though he wrote the music and lyrics for this new album, you can’t over look the incredible musicians performing it. The team of Dirk Sauer and Jens Ludwig provides an intense feeling presented by shredding guitar riffs and solos. Helping push the intensity and speed of this album is drummer Felix Bohnke who provides the perfect speed of the double bass drum technique when needed and knows when to cut it back to a single bass drum. Helping all three of the other musicians create rhythmic sense to this album is bassist Tobias “Eggi” Exxel. Together, all five members of Edguy take you through an incredible musical journey that is Tinnitus Sanctus. The overall album definitely has it effect, but there are a few tracks I would like to point out as “favorites” of mine. The main ones I like the most are “Ministry of Saints” (Track 1), “Sex Fire Religion” (Track 2), “Dragonfly” (Track 6), and “Speedhoven” (Track 9). Every track on this album has its own personality and effect for the overall excellence of the album, but the tracks listed above shows the many talents of Edguy with mixtures of speed, heaviness, and even more mellow and melodic parts. Overall, this album is a great choice for anyone looking to get into Power metal and Heavy metal around the style of the bands mentioned before.

Kottonmouth Kings – The Green Album
Suburban Noize Records

(4/5)

Mixing the musical styles of Rock, Rap, and Punk, the Kottonmouth Kings have been showing the world how the boys from the West Coast do things in the underground since the mid-90s. Now in their 12th year of official business, the Kings have released their 10th studio album titled The Green Album. If this album says anything about their career, it says that they don’t plan on letting up anytime soon. Although I can’t agree with all of the lyrical content expressed in the album involving drugs, I can still see above that to see that this record is insanely good. This is odd to hear from this long time metalhead, but there’s no denying that the Kottonmouth Kings have talent. With twenty hand picked songs out of the original sixty tracks recorded over a six month run at heir studio in California, KmK provides multiple atmospheres on The Green Album with classic Hip-Hop tracks, more mellow acoustic tracks, and even some of the good ol’ Punk tracks. I have to admit that most of my favorites are some of the Hip-Hop tracks such as “K.O.T.T.O.N.M.O.U.T.H. Song” (Track 6), “Blaze of Glory” (Track 2), and “Rock Like Us” (Track 3). To get a good feel for the more Punk side of the Kottonmouth Kings, check out “Super Hero” (Track 12) and “So Cal” (Track 17). Some of the other tracks on the album have some exclusive feature artists Tech N9ne, Brother J, and The Dirtball. One other aspect that should be mentioned for this album, the guys are donating a percentage of profits from the sales of The Green Album to various environmental causes and have issued some, if not all, of the albums in a more environmentally friendly packaging. So, help support the band and saving the earth as well as adding some sick Hip-Hop to your arsenal of music by going out and picking up a copy of The Green Album ASAP!

Hellrazor – In The Wild
Heaven and Hell Records

(4/5)

Ok, North Carolina Heavy metal fans, it’s time once again to look in your own backyard for the up and coming talent. North Carolina’s own Metal powerhouse Hellrazor has released their album In The Wild, and it is DEFINITELY worth checking out! Coming at you hard with an old school Heavy metal sound mixed with a good, solid, Hard rock feel, Hellrazor truly represents some of their influences in bands such as Pantera, Judas Priest, Testament, KISS, and others. Backing this operation is the rhythm team of bassist Dave Sanchez and drummer Chuck Giardino. These two guys really do their job keeping the band’s sound full with only one guitar being provided by the insane guitarist listed only as Charley on Hellrazor’s Myspace. Altogether, Chuck, Dave, and Charley provide fans and listeners with fist pumping, headbanging, Heavy metal that’s just downright good for the soul! Getting beyond the musical aspects of Hellrazor, it is easy to see that singer Alan Rueda is PERFECT for this band! Alan brings an excellent range of vocals to the table from mid-range singing to hitting some of those famous Rob Halford style notes in the upper register. This guy is incredible! Overall, I give Hellrazor two horns way up for helping to keep the old school alive and doing it well! As far as In The Wild goes, the tracks I would suggest in order to give a good overall sound of the band, I would have to go with “In The Wild” (Title track/Track 1), “Hellrazor” (Track 2), and “Ride or Die” (Track 8). I believe these tracks truly represent what this band is all about and why they will go far in the Metal world. So, NC fans, keep supporting your local music scene as they bring you true entertainment. As for everyone else, keep supporting Metal as a whole and get your copy of In The Wild NOW!