CD

This overview of Ozzy’s career is available in different formats.  First of all there’s a CD, that contains 17 tracks, and which I received to review.  But you can also buy it as a 2 LP set, and even as a 2 LP picture disc set.  And finally there’s also a 2 DVD set.

Let’s just say that is was a real pleasure to listen to this collection of songs, spanning this man’s 4 decades career, from the – not so – humble beginnings ‘Blizzard Of Ozz’ and follow-up ‘Diary Of A Madman’ right up to his latest album ‘Scream’.

A double CD collection of ‘King Diamond’ songs, newly enhanced into ultimate editions, will be released by ‘Metal Blade Records’ next month. King Diamond’s ‘Dreams of Horror’ is the only ‘best of’ album covering the band’s entire career. King Diamond and ‘Andy LaRocque’ meticulously mastered and enhanced these 23 songs into the ultimate editions, chosen by the band from both the Roadrunner and Metal Blade catalog.

I never was a real Heart fan, despite the facts that they had some good songs, not the least of all on of their early successes ‘Barracuda’, but also to the fact that in the eighties I used to listen to AFN network (the radio station for the American Forces in Germany), because this was one of the few radio stations at that time that played AOR.

Halo Of Flys… Hello Alice Cooper… This Illinois-based band, however, did adapt their moniker a little, but they do not hide their appreciation for this master of Shock Rock, and even mention him in their thanks list.

Goats Of Doom were formed as a solo-outfit by a young guy who calls himself Scaregod, and who was active under different monikers since his childhood. With Alesteir Alhazred he wrote and recorded a first demo in 2009, Perkeleen Luonti, and a second one a year later, entitled Herjaus Kaikkia Ihmisen Jumalia Vastaan.

When Exodus initially formed in 1980, ‘Kirk Hammett’ was a big part of the band - with the name of the band actually coming from him, though he only recorded one demo tape with the band, and left shortly after to join Metallica. By this time, the other founding guitarist from the band, ‘Tim Agnello’, had left the band and been replaced by ‘Gary Holt’ - who, to many fans, has become the face of Exodus, being the only member to appear on every album released by the band.

Despite many years of existence, Duskmortym, the solo-outfit of Ethan ‘Dusk’ Bowes, did not release anything official at all. …until now. Under the Duskmortym-moniker, Ethan wrote, composed and released the full length One Night Over The Baltic…, which has a total running time of about fifty five minutes. And the Baltic as lyrical source of inspiration is quite remarkable for a Canadian project. Other lyrical sources are taken as well from European soil, but that aside…

As from opener ”Chant of shadows” it’s clear what to expect….

These gentlemen from The Netherlands are coming up with a brand new album called ‘Dance With The Devil’. Like were used of them this new album again is strong, pure hardcore and it includes clearly messages in their songs. This is the new release since their last album ‘The New Future’ (2012) who was once again one hell of a blast for every true hardcore fan.

Switzerland’s Bölzer surprised the underworlds with last year’s debut Aura, which was released by Iron Bonehead (who else…). So it was quite satisfying to notice this band returning with a new EP, two-tracker Soma. Both tracks are an ode to the goddess Luna, by the way, ‘set amidst a thematic backdrop of war and the surrender of the fleshly temple’ (taken from Invictus Productions’ biography).