Easy Action
Easy Action
(Diesel & Glory/Triada)

Re-release of one of the first Swedish Glam records. Originally released back in 1983, when the genre was still young and Easy Action was a hungry band. If you're not familiar with the band I can tell you that vocalist Zinny J. Zan (Shotgun Messiah, Zan Clan) and guitarist Kee Marcello (Europe) are the most famous outside of Sweden, but also bass player Alex Tyrone/Peo Thyrén (Noice, Sha-Boom) and Freddy Von Gerber have had some success during the years.

   To hear Easy Action 24 years later is not a very revolutionary experience. The songs aren't the most memorable and not even very dangerous for this kind of music. The original release may be most famous for the song »We Go Rocking«, which was stolen by Poison and re-named »I Want Action«. What I like most about this album are the bonus tracks. Most of them are live versions and I must admit that Easy Action sounds a lot more vital alive than in the studio.

   So all in all, Easy Action was (OK they have reformed) a band mostly based on image. I would like to compare them to Hanoi Rocks - lots of image - less of music!

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

Concept of God
Visions
(Massacre)

Side project from Solitude Aeturnus must be the easiest way to describe this band - Robert Lowe (also in Candlemass), Steve Moseley and James Martin are current members of Solitude Aeturnus, and drummer John Covington used to be a member of that band for a long time.

   My hopes for this album were pretty big after the fantastic Candlemass album »King Of The Grey Islands«. This album is not that good in any way, but after the first couple of spins I thought this was going to be a huge disappointment. Luckily enough this is not the case. The songs are not as heavy as the bands mentioned earlier, but they are still heavy and kind of hard to get into.

   The songs are equally strong, none better than others, and a fair version of »Man On The Silver Mountain« (Rainbow) is brought to us. If you are a fan of Robert Lowe (and who isn't?) and wants to hear his great voice with some interesting music should absolutely check this out.

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

GammaRay
Land of the Free II
(Steamhammer/SPV)

Combine Iron Maiden, Gary Moore and the best German Power Metal and you have the new release from Kai Hansen's pet - GammaRay!

   This is a follow-up to the first »Land Of The Free« album from 1995. But the title is only a simple way to ride on old works - and it is not necessary - this album could easily have been called anything else without feeling ashamed. This album is a really good collection of songs. Mostly fast songs, but also nice acoustical passages and solos, and the vocals from Kai actually sound pretty good!

   The album starts in a very high tempo. The six first songs are mostly really fast ones. I won't name any of these songs since they are all very good. It takes us to song number seven, »Empress« until GammaRay is slowing down a bit, but still this a really cool song. One of several songs containing typical acoustic Maiden guitars. The next track, »When The World«, is another fast one with more Maiden guitars. Track number ten is called »Real World«, but the main riff is almost too similar to the old Gary Moore classic »Out In The Fields«. Apart from that, I must admit that this song could be an anthem on its own. The album ends with the 11.33 minutes long »Insurrection« and it is indeed a great ending of a great album.

   Kai Hansen, Henjo Richter, Dirk Schlächter and Daniel Zimmermann - I love you!

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

Dogpound
III
(Lion Music)

Happy Metal from Sweden! But this band is not just about laughing and having fun, they rock too! What we get here is the third release (yes, really!) from this talented band. Catchy and guitar driven Melodic Metal in the vein of Freak Kitchen and even some early Danger Danger comes to mind.

   Dogpound is one of those band that could get away with writing one really simple melody and keep repeating it until you can't get it out of your head. Combine the sharp guitar riffing with a great melody and a catchy chorus and you have the picture of what this is about.

   All in all a very strong album. The first four songs are all killers, and I also would like to mention »In A Life« which is really cool. The only weaknesses could be that you have most of the best songs first and sometimes the rhymes are a bit to obvious. But hey – buy this album anyway!

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

Pagan's Mind
God's Equation
(Limb Music/SPV)

Damn it, I can't really say what I think about this album! The first times I heard it, I just found it very difficult to get, but the more spins I gave it the better it gets.

   What we got here is the fourth release from Norwegian Progressive Metalists Pagan's Mind. The band is quite hard to put in a specific genre, but the music and songs are actually more difficult to get into than what is healthy for you.

   The first spins just made me wonder what they were thinking of – vocals you either love or hate, songs without memorable choruses and strange twirls during each song. But now, many spins later, I have found myself some songs I want you to check out one extra time - »United Alliance« and »Evolution Exceed« could actually be called normal, and the fast and angry »Alien Kamikaze« is one nasty song.

   Pagan's Mind doesn't sound much like any other band but one band I could compare these guys to are the mighty Queensrÿche, but Pagan's Mind is more Metal and more of everything. Better or worse – you decide! I am not sure, but I am pretty sure this album can grow even more on me.

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

Paradise Lost is back after 2 years. This time on the new label Century Media. I'm not sure that is the reason why »In Requiem« is even more Metal than their previous album »Paradise Lost«, but anyhow that is the fact.

   This could have been the album to release after »Draconian Times«. I am quite fond of the albums released during that era, but I am sure many old fans find this a welcome return to the old sound.

   Starting off with a real punch in your face – »Never For The Damned« - would be loved by every fan of Paradise Lost. Yes, even the ones who discovered them during »One Second« or »Host«.

   They still keep some of the electronic stuff. Like in »Ash & Debris«, but Nick Holmes' voice is angry again and the guitars are back where they belong.

   This album is an absolute must-have. The songs are varied and are all very good, but my favouite is »Sedative God«, which actually reminds me of »Forever Failure« from »Draconian Times«!

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

Stan Bush
In this Life
(Frontiers)

Stan Bush released his first album back in 1983. This is his eleventh release to this date, but only my second to hear. The first one was »Every Beat Of My Heart« from 1993. That was a good album, but nothing spectacular. Now, 14 years later, Stan is back with a fantastic melodic rock album for every fan of great AOR.

   »In This Life« has some of the most catching melodies I have heard in a long time. But even though you may have heard the concept before, this is done in such a good way that you can't ignore the greatness of this album.

   Vocally this is a mix of Lou Gramm (Foreigner, Shadow King) and Mark/Marcie Free (King Kobra, Signal, Unruly Child) and musically you can combine the works of those 2 great vocalists with the music of bands such as Bad English.

   Favourites being »Over You« and »Long, Long Way«, but the other tracks aren't bad either. Actually I think the songs »I Can't Try« and »This Moment« needs to be heard of.

   Don't miss this album if you are into any of the bands earlier mentioned. This is one of the biggest positive surprises for me so far this year. Great combination of slow songs and faster songs, and always with a nice hook to grab you.

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON

Tesla
Real to Reel
(Tesla Electric Company)

So here they are again, 3 years after their latest studio effort »Into The Now«. In 21 years, Tesla has brought us 5 studio recordings with their own material. They have also given us some live stuff and compilations, but until now they have been kind enough not to bring us a cover album. But unfortunately here it is. A tribute to their own heroes.

   These are boring songs without the greatness Tesla used to have on their own songs. I can't blame Tesla for the songs selected, because some of them are not the most obvious choices, but anyhow I just dislike this album.

   I just find this release very annoying. So please give us a new album with songs written by the band I used to like. I really think you guys are still capable to do another »The Great Radio Controversy«.

MÅRTEN JACOBSSON