Emmo’s Blog

So after only 2 releases in the last 18 years do AC/DC still Rock or are they surplus to requirements in the music world?

AC/DCs last 2 releases (Ball Breaker & Stiff Upper Lip) were considered poor by AC/DC diehards so how does their latest release Black Ice fair? It’s certainly been worth the wait as it’s the best album since the underrated For Those About To Rock We Salute You which followed the mammoth album Back In Black.

AC/DC don’t do things the easy way. They are one of the few bands who don’t let their music sell on ITunes. If you want AC/DCs music you have to buy the CD. I salute them for that in the oh so easy world of downloads. I love getting an album putting it on and reading the sleeve notes. Old fashioned and sad but that’s me.

Singer Brian Johnson is back on top form after internet roumers that he had or was going to quit the band. He has always said that he would retire if he felt he couldn’t give 100% to the AC/DC cause. Johnson is now 61 and will be nearly 64 when AC/DC finish touring this album. Brothers Angus and Malcolm Young have written all the songs for this album with the odd touch from Johnson and these 15 songs prove AC/DC still have the hunger they had when they started.

Black Ice contains five songs that includes the word Rock. Guitarist Angus Young said a song looks better with the word Rock in the title! Unlike the previous two albums Black Ice is laden with hit after hit that is perfect old and new fans. That’s not to say they are all radio friendly in terms of commercial music but they could release single after single from this album.

The album kicks off with the single Rock N’ Roll Train which is typical AC/DC, great riffs, steady drum beat and a catchy sing a long chorus.
Smash N Grab, She Likes Rock N Roll, Stormy May Day, Rock N Roll Dream & Anything Goes are the album highlights.

There are few fillers on the album in the form of Spoiln’ For A Fight & Wheels but there still something in those songs there to enjoy. If I have one complaint it’s that the guitar solos are too short and in some songs don’t exist at all. Despite that Angus Young guitar sounds as good as ever and the band sound tight and fresh.

All these songs have the AC/DC sound running through them and you know its them from the start of every song.
This album isn’t going to win any awards or be the album that people remember them by in years from now but it proves that AC/DC can still rock with the best of them.
If this is the last AC/DC album as it’s rumoured then it’s a great way to go out. This is an album they needed to make and fans needed to hear.

My Rating: 8/10

Tracklisting:

1.Rock ‘N’ Roll Train
2.Skies On Fire
3.Big Jack
4.Anything Goes
5.War Machine
6.Smash ‘N’ Grab
7.Spoilin’ For A Fight
8.Wheels
9.Decibel
10.Stormy May Day
11.She Likes Rock ‘N’ Roll
12.Money Made
13.Rock ‘N’ Roll Dream
14.Rocking All The Way
15.Black Ice

Now before you read this review let it be known that until the release of Pro Evolution Soccer 2009 I was a proud PES fan boy.  I would defend the game to the hilt especially to those FIFA Fan boys who said that theirs was the better game.
Let it also be known I have only ever owned two versions of EAs game.
FIFA 94 for the Mega drive II but I preferred Sensible Soccer & the FIFA spin off Road to the World Cup 98 for the PS1. Again not a favourite of mine and hardly played.
I have however, rented most FIFAs to see if they had been slowly catching up with Pro Evolution Soccer and until the last 2 years they hadn’t got close.

After the debacle that is PES2009 (see review on this site) I decided to take the plunge and have a look at FIFA09. I felt dirty for the thought even entering my mind but I had lost total patience with Konami’s latest offering. I had read reviews on various sites and FIFA always came out on top but you need to see and feel the game for yourself don’t you?
I went down to HMV and two blokes were playing the game on the 360 in one of those console stands. The game was Chelsea Vs Liverpool and the two blokes seemed to be having a good time. First thing I noticed was that FIFA looked like a Next Gen game unlike Pro Evo. Although being a PES fan I have never been one for correct kits and names, it was nice to see the teams how they should look and to top it off playing at Anfield which was instantly recognisable. The game seemed to look like it played really well and as one of the guys spun round in amazement that Drogba had rattled the Liverpool crossbar from 6 yards he bumped into me.

After apologies were exchanged I asked him had he played Pro Evo this year and if so what did he think of it? Also how did FIFA play and compare as it looked impressive? They told me that they had given up on Pro Evo and so to had his mates who had all gone for FIFA this year. I explained that FIFA always looked like the old Millennium Dome. Stunning on the outside but not much going on inside.

To my amazement and in an act of total generosity he said for me to jump on the controls and take over from him giving his mate a game. I was explained that I had never played FIFA before and never used the Analog stick opting for the D Pad every time so his mate would kick my arse. But as soon as I took control I was amazed how easy it was to adjust to FIFA from Evo. The game is smooth and now has the game play that the graphics deserve. After a few minutes they said they had to go and I was left with both controls. I left it on 2 player mode and just got a feel of the game.
I was Liverpool and there were some nice exchanges between Keane and Torres. I then thought there was an earthquake but realised it was only the controller vibrating after I had hit the crossbar. Nice touch.
I was hooked so I ran back to work and ordered the game (£10 cheaper online with free delivery!) from where I had ordered the soon to be on eBay Pro Evo 2009.

The next day the game arrived and I cracked it open as soon as I got in from work and loaded it up.
The first thing you notice is how much effort EA put into their sports games. When the game loads it asks you to set up your profile so that it remembers how you like your controller configuration, game speed, camera, favourite team and the level of difficulty. If someone wanted to play on my 360 they would have to set up their own user tag so they didn’t muck up my settings. Great Idea.

The menus are friendly on the eye and the options are limitless and easy to use. After adjusting the game speed to slow (as normal speed is a bit too fast for my liking) and adjusting the camera angles I decided to set up a friendly match. As the game already knows that Liverpool are my favourite team it automatically selects them for me in the team selection. Not only that it also automatically selects a game against your local rivals so I get to play Everton. You don’t have to use these teams but I like the train of thought by EA.

While the game loads you can have a kick about with Torres and fire shots at a keeper to get used to how the game feels. Another nice touch.

But this is what has let down FIFA’s in years gone by all the above is great but means nothing without game play. Komani has had none of the above before but had the game play that EA could only dream about. But in FIFA09 EA finally have a game that is not only as good as Pro Evo (and it pains me to say) but is better.

While Konami have stood still in the New Generation era EA haven’t and have used these consoles to full advantage. For example the game is actually made in HD so it looks even better on a HDtv than a normal game. Konami take note. The players look real and look like who they are meant to be. No blocky legs and shorts made of cardboard here.

Passing is good the harder you press your button the harder and faster the pass. The same goes with shooting.
Players will make space and point to where they want the ball but defenders are good at reading those passes. But whereas previous versions have made a meal out of the simple things like passing, shooting, running and heading EA seem to have nailed it this time around after 14 years of trying. Another negative aimed at previous versions is that there is no passionate feel to it especially when scoring. Again EA have worked on this and listened to their public and sorted this out.

This is not to say the game is 100% perfect. It isn’t . It still has a few things that bug like when a goal is scored they could leave the focus on the ball in the net rather than trying to get you to do a celebration using your controller. I’d like to see the ball in the net longer and the keeper moaning at his defenders rather than try to get my player to slide in celebration of his goal. Sometimes the players do feel like they are on ice but not as much as before. Also when shooting the ball feels as if its one of those Woolworths 99p balls. You can finese to your shots but that move it tricky as you have to hold R1 when pressing the shoot button as well as trying to keep another finger on the R2 for pace. All a bit much for my pork sausage like fingers.

The commentary is from Sky Sports and Man Utd loving Andy Gray plus his sidekick Martin Tyler. They are not my favourite pairing in the commentary box but even I’ll admit they sound like they do at on TV. But then compared to John Champion and Mark Lawrenson on Pro Evo who doesn’t. 

I haven’t tried the other game types yet but what does intrigue me is the Adidas Live League. I’m under the impression that the game is synced via Xbox Live with what’s going on in the football world today. For example if you were to choose Liverpool you couldn’t at this moment play with Torres or Skrtl as they are both injured. Only when they are declared fit by LFC can you use them. I would imagine that Red and Yellow cards obtained in real life would also stand in the game.

EA have really pulled out all the stops this year and have the game that the graphics deserve. After many years EA have finally caught and now overtaken Konami. That is something I never thought was possible. It will be interesting to see how Konami act as I know many who have left them for EA this year. One thing is for sure is that Konami need to work very hard in getting those fans back next year.

EA has proved that the best things really do come to those who wait…….

My Rating: 9/10 – Total football.

Since the days of its first release, International Superstar Soccer for the SNES, The great debate has always been about who was best? Konami’s ISS or EA’s Fifa? For the last 12 years Konami have (just about) held that title.

The History Of The Battle: EA Vs Konami:
EA’s Fifa started in 1994 on the Mega Drive II and it was simply titled Fifa 94
Playstation arrived and saw Fifa go to a new level but most still preferred Konami’s offering.
I have several mates who all preferred ISS to Fifa. Yes Fifa has all the real kits and player names but ISS had the game play whereas Fifa’s felt emotionless. You could score easy in Fifa – just pick Real Madrid, get the ball to Laudrup and watch him run unchallenged to score another goal in a 13-0 victory. Fifa was all about spectacular goals and not about game play. In ISS you had to think about your passes and time them right as you edged the game by the odd goal. When you scored in ISS you really felt like you had achieved something after all goals win games but not all are scored by flipping the ball over the defenders head and belting it in the top corner like Fifa would have you believe happened for every goal in every game.

As the years passed and countless games were released Konami had the edge – the now titled Pro Evolution Soccer was the victor in the battle with EA’s dour titled and poor game play in FIFA.

Then something happened in late 2005. That something was called Next Generation consoles (360 & PS3). EA had made a game for these consoles using the powerful machines whereas Konami hadn’t. In fact their first release on the NG console was Pro Evolution Soccer 6 which was awful (no edit modes) and EA still not quite as good as Evo was slowly gaining in play ability. Konami had said the game wasn’t Next Generation and had been made based on the PS2 model. They also admitted it had been rushed to compete with Fifa (both games are always released within 2 weeks of each other) If that was the case they should have waited.
 
In 2007 Konami released Pro Evo 2008 which again was rushed but played OK (if a little too fast) but still wasn’t making full use of the next gen consoles. Fifa 08 was and got the play ability pretty much spot on. Now EA had added game play to the full licences Konami was left red faced as most diehard fans defected to Fifa.

Which brings us nicely onto Pro Evolution Soccer 2009.

Pro Evo 2009:
As soon as the game comes on the intro is impressive but the menus are ugly and dated. Big and blocky and just a mess in general. Konami don’t seem to care or are totally oblivious to the fact that EA have over taken them this year (FIFA09 has the game play that Konami once had if not better). Fans of Pro Evo used to accept that most of the real team names wouldn’t be correct especially from the Premier League (only Liverpool and Man U are official this year) but at least they had the real Italian, German and Spanish names. Not anymore. Konami now only have 4 official teams from each league and have ditched the German teams altogether.
Not only do the teams not have the real names they no longer have the real kits either. For example Atletico Madrid don’t play in the Red and White stripes with blue shorts but play in total Green? Yes the full edit mode is back but I don’t have time to change over 200 team names and kits. Nor do I want to play with Teeside for example.
The normal leagues and cups are there all without the proper names. The Premier League is called the English League and the league cups are called Konami cups.

New Features:
Getting past the menus Konami have secured the full licence to the Champions League which does look good. Choose a team in this year’s CL and take them to glory. But in typical Konami fashion its half baked as although the CL License is in full not all the teams are. Taking London FC to the final isnt quite the same as taking Chelsea is it? Also during Pro Evo’s world famous Master League mode (create a team with rubbish players and earn points to buy better players) you can qualify for the CL, only it’s not called the CL in Master League mode it’s called European Championship and won’t have the trimmings of the CL mode. Why bother to get the CL licence if you won’t put it in the Master League? It’s another sign that Konami are resting on past glories.

They have also added a new feature called Become A Legend where you take charge of only 1 player (midfielder or forward) during the game and see the game through your eyes. The idea is to err… become a legend. You start of at your hometown club and play 1 game. After that game 3 teams (not big teams) will come in for you and you choose one and start playing in practice matches you aim to get on the bench, in the starting 11, then leave for a bigger club et etc until you’re the best player in the world. It’s a bit of fun but Konami should have spent more effort in other areas. Footie fans will also remember a game in the 90s called Lebo Grande which was the same thing so it’s nothing new.

Master League:
The Master League is untouched for the roughly the 6th year running. Some would say that’s a good thing but there are still a few glitches. Like using points instead of money to buy players, no one is ever cup tied when you buy them and you always get teams from your division in your CL group, Sorry… European Championship group! Still, creating your own team from scratch and taking them from the bottom to the top makes a great game it just needs a little modernising.

Players & Stats:
Now I appreciate that it must take time to create over 3000 players putting in each statistic but if you are going to do it at least do it properly. For example Liverpool’s Fernando Torres scored 33 goals in 40 odd games last season yet his stats have gone down from Evo 07. Keeper Pepe Riena has been given 72/100 for goal keeping stats yet has the most clean sheets in the league over the last 3 seasons. To prove I’m not being biased towards Liverpool’s players, Arsenal’s Bacary Sagna was one of the best defenders in the league last season and won rave reviews yet Konami only rate him as 68/100. Funnily enough the South Asian players (where the game is made) have stats that defy belief. Regarding transfers Berbatov is still at Spurs and so too is Malbranque. Robihno is still at Madrid. These transfers happened on the last day of the transfer window which was 01/09/08 – giving Konami 6 weeks to put the players in their new teams but they haven’t bothered. EA done it so why couldn’t Konami?

Game Play:
Now the game play. This is really important to Konami as it is the game play which has kept Pro Evo at the top of the charts. At first the game loads up and looks impressive but when the game starts that’s when you finally get the hump. It’s been slowed down from last year’s release and that’s a good thing but not when fast players look like they are running through treacle and don’t seem to get anywhere. The players seem to bunch in the middle of the field and they are joined by the ref so it looks a one big bundle in the centre of the park. Shooting is more difficult than previous versions which is fine but would a forward blast over from 6 yards every time? I wouldn’t have thought so. Keepers since Evo 06 haven’t been able to hold onto shots and nothing has changed in that sense. One minute they are pulling of world class saves only to parry the softest of shots into the path of a forward for an easy tap in the next. Passing has improved and players will point to where they want the ball which is a nice touch. You can still run your centre half from one end of the field to the other unchallenged which was a major flaw in the last 2 versions. Refs are as fussy as ever with the first foul of the game often resulting in a caution or red card. The in game graphics are OK but are not NG standard as the players are not flexible and seem robot like. It may be windy and raining but their shorts don’t move in the wind or when they run. Players can only turn in 8 directions which makes a submarine turning seem quick. This might be a bit anal but the goal nets are annoying. Not only are they the same at every ground (even Wembley) so you can’t tell what stadium you are at, but even when you tap the ball into an open goal the ball pings around the net like a pinball. They may have the official Liverpool and Man U teams but there is no Anfield or Old toilet – sorry Old Trafford to play your home games at.
So all in all not a great deal of improvement from last season it’s just been slowed down.

Online Play:
I have played 3 games online and only 1 has been playable due to serious lag. Just getting a game started online is time consuming and has taken me up to 15 minutes. In my first game I lost 0-5 but for 3 of those goals my player had the ball, the picture froze and when it came back the opposition had smacked the ball into the net. Also players teleport. They are there one minute but not the next only to re-appear at the other end of the pitch. Keepers seem to run out for the ball but don’t dive at the players feet so annoying gaols are conceded. Konami say they will be fixing broken servers every night but the lag really needs to be looked at.

Summary:
The question is this….Have Konami learned their lesson or noticed they have lost fans to Fifa and brought out the most amazing game their loyal fan base deserves? In a word the answer is a big fat NO. The reason for this is simple. Pro Evo 2009 is still not a Next Gen game. OK its available on the next gen consoles but that’s it.

I really wanted this game to be brilliant especially after the last few versions but it’s not. I can’t decide whether the game has gone backwards or just stood still. I think it’s probably a bit of both. Konami have won the battle V’s EA for 12 years but have lost the 12 year war. It’s the first time I have played a Pro Evo game and not felt excited by it. As a fan of Pro Evo I accept that there will be no licences and real players names but now they have not put most teams in their correct colours, made the game Next Gen or really improved the game play I (and many others) have finally had enough. Pro Evo’s 1-5  were brilliant but with 6 being the first 360 release and being such a disappointment Konami have had another 2 versions to get it right but they haven’t. They are releasing substandard games due to complacency.  If someone like me, a PES Fan boy, prefers FIFA this year to Pro Evo 2009 then how many more will feel the same? FIFA have this year finally got the game play perfect. It’s taken them since 1994 but they have tried over the years to match Pro Evo and when they did they then wanted to overtake Konami and have. Konami really need to go back to the drawing board and start again from scratch. They need to remember why people bought them instead of EA in the first place. Pro Evo fans are not fussed about real kits and names but they need and deserve great game play to make up for it and that is missing from Pro Evo 2009. Yes I can buy a transfer data kit for £10 and have all but Premiership real names from option files available on the net, but why should I after already forking out £34 for the game? Now the game play isn’t there it doesn’t really matter.

Humberside Orange V North London Red anyone? Thought not……….

Rating:

5/10 – Go buy FIFA09 and play real football.

Guns N’ Roses have today announced that the new album The Chinese Democracy will finally be released on 24 November 2008. GNR also have released the track listing (below). The album will be made available on CD and Vinyl formats. Fans also have the choice between 3 different album covers (also below)

1. Chinese Decmocracy
2. Scraped
3. Shackler’s Revenge
4. Street Of Dreams
5. If The World
6. Better
7. This I Love
8. There Was A Time
9. Riad N’ The Bedovins
10. Sorry
11. I.R.S
12. Catcher
13. Madagascar
14. Prostitute                                                      

In the 90s Skid Row were massive. They had fans all over the world, Number 1 albums, world tours and the best singer Rock music has ever seen and heard.  Next January see the 20th anniversary of the release of their self titled debut.

In 1986, Bassist Rachel Bolan and Guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo formed a band and soon added Drummer Rob Affuso, another guitarist Scotti Hill and Singer Matt Fallen.  In early 1987 Fallon was replaced by the 18 year old Canadian blond bombshell Sebastian Bach after Snake had seen Bach sing at famous photographers wedding. Snake sent him a tape of the band and Bach like what he heard. Skid Row was born. The band got the name Skid Row as its a term used for being down on your luck with no money. Not as a tribute to the Gary Moore band named Skid Row in the 70s as some people think.

Snake was good friends with Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora. This helped build a global fan base when Bon Jovi took them on the New Jersey tour as their opening act. Skid Row played to audiences of up to 60,000+ per evening and they didn’t even have a record deal. They signed to Atlantic Records in 1988 and in January 1989 they released their self titled debut album. The album peaked in the US billboard charts at # 6 and went 5 X Platinum. The singles 18 & Life, I Remember You & Youth Gone Wild ensured that they were constantly on MTV and Radio Stations.

Skid Row didn’t have it all so smooth, While opening for Aerosmithin December 1989 someone through a bottle at Bach. The singer picked the bottle up and threw it back in the audience aiming at the person who threw it. It missed. The bottle hit a girl in the face and exploded leaving her having to have a face full of stitches. Bach was arrested and later charged with assault. Bach was then pictured at an after gig party where his T-shirt sported the logo “Aids kills faggots dead.” Bach insisted he had just left the stage and someone had thrown him the t-shirt and that he put it on without even looking at it. Bach made a donation to the AIDS foundation as an apology.

In 1990 the band entered the studio to start work on the “difficult second album.” Although they had sold millions of records and been on heavy MTV rotation Skid Row felt that some people thought they had got where they were because of the association with Bon Jovi. Desperate to shake the tag of Bon Jovi’s little brothers they announced that Slave To The Grind would be the title of the new album and that it would be a far heavier album than the debut.

If they were worried about the association with Bon Jovithen they need not worry as the band fell out with JBJ and Sambora over publishing royalties that were supposedly owed to Jovi. Bothbands decided to go their separate ways and vowed never to tour with each other again. Although Snake remained good friends with his mentors (Samboragave his earnings from the royalties back to Skid Row) the other members of the band weren’t so and Bach told all the gory details in an interview with Kerrang! Magazine saying that he had pinned JBJ against the wall only to be punched out cold by JBJssecurity guard. JBJ responded by saying that Bach was getting to big for himself and that he was still wearing the shoes that JBJ had given him (Bach was skint) while arguing withhim. Also Bach had been requested to stop swearing on stage. None of the lyrics to Skid Rows song contained bad language but in between songs Bach introduced each song witha ton of expletives. JBJ explained that his audience was far younger than Skid Rows and that families bringing their kids to the show didn’t want to hear swearing from the stage. There was also a roomer that JBJ had written Skid Rows biggest hit 18 & Life – this was denied byboth parties.

In the summer of 1991 Skid Row returned with a beast of an album. Slave To The Grind couldn’t have sounded much different to the debut if it had tried. From the opening track and first single Monkey Business it was obvious that Skid Row had found their sound. The title track sounded like something Slayer would be proud off. Other songs such as In A Darkened Room, Wasted Time and Quicksand Jesus let Bach show of his vocal range to the world. Skid Row also had more subjects to write about ranging from Child abuse to Heroin addiction. The artwork on the album was a painting by Bach’s late father. Slave was a massive success going straight to # 1 on the US Billboard. Skid Row had reached the top. Ironically it was the band they toured with in 1991/92 that knocked them of the top of the charts. Guns N’ Roses released the Use Your Illusion albums in September 1991.

August 1991 saw Skid Row play to their then biggest ever UK audience supporting Guns N’ Roses at Wembley Stadium. Again controversy followed the band. Halfway through the set they stopped the show and read a letter that the Brent Council had sent them. It read that the band was not to play the song Get The Fuck Out at the Stadium. Bach told the council to stick it (or words to that effect!!) and the band played the song. The result? Skid Row had already lined up Wembley Arena for their own headline tour in November. Brent Council banned the group from playing the Arena forcing them to find another suitable venue. They ended up playing the Docklands Arena which was a nightmare for fans to get there and back from.

That said the Docklands gig was probably the best the band have ever played on these shores. The crowd were warmed up by support acts Love/Hate & LA Guns before Skid Row took to the stage. An awesome performance was topped off with a classic bit of improvisation from Bach.  A Newspaper article that Bach had done an interview for featured columnist Linda Duff. She had wrote that Bach had given up drink and drugs as it upset his mum. Bach was livid and read the interview on the stage. He then dropped his trousers and wiped his arse with it. He then spun round and said “I’m going on record. Linda Duff is a Cunt. Now print that!!” He then proceeded to sing the next song with his trousers round his ankles and his dick hanging out.  Classic Bach!!!

In 1992 Skid Row were added to the bill for the Monsters Of Rock Tour. They played to well over 100,000 people at Castle Donnington in the UK. They were also confirmed as the support act for the Guns N’ Roses and Metallicajoint headline tour across the US. Some members ofbothbands didn’t want Skid Row there as they thought that the band had only got the gig due the Bach becoming best mate with GN’Rs front man Axl Rose. The tour didn’t go exactly to plan with fan riots because GNR either turned up late or didn’t go on at all and Metallica’s James Hetfield got burned when a pyrotechnic went of too early. 

While they were waiting to record their 3rd album they released a 5 track cover EP called B-Side Ourselves. This saw each member of the band pick a song for the EP. Bassist Rachel Bolan took the mike for his choice Psycho Therapy. Other songs included were Hendrix’s Little Wing and Kiss’s C’MonAnd Love Me. They were once again due to go into the studio to record the full album when the band decided they needed a long break as 4 years of constant touring and recording had caught up with them.

What Skid Row didn’t release is that Grunge music would arrive and kill most of the bands like them off. By the time Skid Row had recorded their 3rd album Subhuman Race after a near 3 year break, bands such as Pearl Jam, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots and Nirvana ruled the charts and dominated MTV.  Still, more determined than ever they released the album in March 1995 and it reached number 35 in the US charts, number 8 in the UK and went Gold. The album was a good solid rock album produced by Bob Rock but although the die hard fans loved it the casual fan wasn’t that interested. MTV stopped playing their videos as grunge now ruled the airwaves and play lists. 

They announced one off gigs throughout Europe to promote the album and packed out the Astoria in London. The gig never nearly happened after Sebastian got himself locked in the tour bus after constantly opening and closing the doors. The band came on 90 minutes late after an electrician had to be called to release him from the bus. Skid Row did a scaled down tour (which didn’t see them come back to the UK) and that finished in early 1996.

Then in December 2006 Skid Row made an announcement that would stun the world of Rock. Sebastian Bach had been fired. There are two stories about why he was fired. The first is that the rest of the band wanted to change their sound and start making music that had a Seattle/grunge feel to it and Sebastian walked out as he is influenced by Kiss, Judas Priest and Iron Maiden. He would never sell his Rock and Roll soul to grunge. The other is that Bach became a big headed and thought he was Skid Row and that the band should do everything he wanted. I don’t know which is true so ill go for a bit of both. Bach was Skid Row in a way and that added to someones ego who was already very confident in themselves could be trouble. Magazines and TV shows only wanted to interview Bach and didn’t really care for the rest of the band. Bach to this day says he never walked out and he never would do that to the fans. He also said if the band wanted him back he would go back in an instant.

Shortly after Bach’s departure drummer Rob Affusso (who was good friends with Bach) left the band as well. Skid Row was Affusos life and speaking about his recent divorce he said “My wife asked me to choose either Skid Row or her and there’s no contest. I’ll pick the band every time.”

The remaining members then decided to give the name Skid Row a rest and in 1998 they formed a group called Ozone Monday and welcomed Affusso back into the fold and new singer Sean McCabe. They wrote 25 songs but with the name Sebastian Bach missing labels were just not interested. Atlantic, label of Skid Row showed some interest but nothing happened. 1998 also saw the release of a greatest hits album called 40 Seasons: The Best Of Skid Row

Then in 1999 Skid Row did the unthinkable and reformed the band with new vocalist Johnny Solinger and drummer Phil Varone. After 4 years of touring trying to plug the name Skid Row again they released a new album called Thick skin in 2003. It was their first album for 8 years. Thick Skin didn’t enter the charts. Shortly after the release of the album Varone left the band due to drug abuse and was replaced by Dave Gara.  Another 2 years of touring was followed by another album in 2006 called Revolutions Per Minute again the album didn’t chart. Revolutions got panned by the media asking why they bother as Skid Row without Seb is like Van Halen without Eddie Van Halen or Guns N’ Roses without Axl Rose. Unthinkable.

Rachel Bolan has said there will be no reunion with Sebastian Bach as he wants to forget the past and move on. I don’t understand this statement as at last November’s Astoria they played only 3 songs from the new albums (which I don’t own). The rest were all from the Bach days. Solinger is a good vocalist but he is no Bach and cannot get as high or hold the notes so songs like 18 & Life & I Remember You sound weak. In my opinion you can change drummers, guitarists and Bass players but its very hard to change singers. Fans get used to the sound of the voice and don’t like to hear a change of signing style. Look at Motley Crue and Van Halen, both have got rid of original singers only to bring them back again. 

I have seen the original Skid Row live 3 times. The first was supporting GN’R at Wembley Stadium, the second at Docklands also in 1991 and the third was the Subhuman Race one off gig at the Astoria. I have also had the misfortune of seeing the new Skid Row. Part of me feels sorry for the new singer Johnny Solinger as he is trying to replace the un-replaceable and he is still called the new singer but has been there nearly 9 years now. But part of me thinks why bother? When leaving Skid Row Sebastian Bach took a band out on the road and did a few gigs playing Skid Row songs. Snake said that the songs were wrote by himself and Bolan so Seb was now in a cover band. In November 2007 I saw the new Skid Row at the Astoria 2 which holds about 200 people. I was stunned. Only 2 original members Rachel Bolan & Scotti Hill were in the band. They said Snake had passport problems but the truth is he can’t be bothered to tour. This is a man who played to crowds of 25,000 to 100,000 why would he want to perform to 200? He has also had a bit of trouble with his arm due to playing the guitar for many years. I’ve also heard he works as an A&R man for a record label.

So what became of Sebastian Bach?  After bieng fired he immediately set up a band called Last Of The Hard menand they signed to Atlantic Records. They recorded the album only for it to be shelved by the label and it was never released. In 1999 he released a solo album called Bring Em Bach Alive! and that was followed by a lead role in the broadway musical Jesus Christ Superstar. Bach was fired from that after alleged Diva like behaviour. In 2003 he auditioned for the group Velvet Revolver but both parties agreed that it wouldn’t work. They sounded like Skids N’ Roses according to Slash and Bach said he didn’t feel comfortable singing Axls songs (he and Axl are great mates). In 2005 he was asked to sing for a one man group called Frameshift and they released an album. He has been seen on various reality shows across America and in late 2007 released another solo album called Angel Down which featured Axl Rose on four songs. Bach returned the favour doing backing vocals on Axls Chinese Democracy (will that ever be released?)

Skid Row are still going and continue to tour and record but the fans are just waiting for the day when they confirm that Bach is going back. Just like the eneviatable Guns N’ Roses reunion, it will happen and lets hope its soon as for me and many fans Skid Row ended when Seb wasn’t asked Bach!!

Discography  - Albums (original band only)

• Skid Row – 1989
• Slave To The Grind – 1991
• B-Sides Ourselves – 1992
• Subhuman Race – 1995
• 40 Seasons: The Best Of Skid Row – 1998 

Discography – VHS (Original band only)

• Oh Say Can You Scream – 1990
• Road Kill – 1993                                   

Today I have received my copy of Pro Evo 2009 today thanks the the guys at www.shopto.net

Once I have played it a few times I will post a review.

The shops will be selling this from 17/10/08 but a few stores will start selling early.

 What are you getting with Avenged Sevenfolds latest album Live In The LBC/Diamonds In The Rough? You are getting a two disc set 1 of which is a concert filmed in April of this year in High Definition and 5.1 Surround Sound. I’ve only watched a few songs but they seem well performed especially the excellent Seize The Day.

The other disc Diamonds In The Rough is 11 songs which didn’t make last year’s self titled album. The question is how? These songs are far and away the best material that AX7 have made. Instantly catchy and chorus’s that are so well written it’s unreal. Once again the guitars are AX7 strong point and there are riffs and solos here a plenty. So why didn’t these tracks make last year’s album considering that only 10 songs were put on the finished product? I think it’s one of two reasons 1) first being that the record label saw a trick here and thought they could make more money with two releases inside a year or 2) The songs on Diamonds In The Rough just didn’t fit the theme or sound of last year’s album. I’ll give the band the benefit of the doubt and go with number two as these songs do seem somewhat different.

As I said earlier the songs are instantly catchy and fairly easy to get on with which has not always been the case of previous AX7 material as some songs require a few listens to get into. Girl I Know for me is a album highlight. It’s a song about a girl who will do anything to get what she wants and I mean anything!
With this album I can see that AX7 will get a lot a praise for making a great rock album but at the same time it’s an album that older fans who have followed the band from the start may dislike as it is not as heavy and has no screaming in. You can’t please everyone. A bands sound does change and this change of sound is for the better. Far better.

 
The only thing that stops this album getting full marks is that out of the 11 songs, there are two covers (Pantera’s Walk and Iron Maidens Flash Of The Blade) and two which are remixes of older songs. So technically you get 7 new AX7 songs. Regarding the covers I’ve never heard the Maiden song so its new to me and I like it but it’s the cover of Pantera’s Walk that disappoints me as its exactly the same as the original. I don’t see the point of covering a song and copying it word for word beat for beat. I would have like AX7 to put their own spin on the song making it sound new and fresh. But lets not dwell on such a small negative.

All in all this is a great album and one AX7 release that shouldn’t be missing from your collection. The band seem to be going from strength to strength and I eagerly await their next release….

My Rating 8/10

Track listing:

Demons
Girl I Know
Crossroads
Flash Of The Blade (Iron Maiden Cover)
Until The End
Tension
Walk (Pantera Cover)
The Fight
Dancing Dead
Almost East (CLA Mix)
Afterlife (Alternate Version)

This is part 2 of Rock albums you must own. I have found making this list challenging as from 2000 to 2005 the Rock world was dominated by Nu-Metal or Pop Punk bands. Although I liked a few of these bands at the time the fad soon wore off. I have purposley made my second list without some of my main favourites The Wildhearts, Bon Jovi or their solo stuff to give you a wider sense of my collection. It would also make this site sound like a fan-site and that’s not what its about. So here goes……

In 2005 The Darkness released the follow up to their mega selling debut Permission To Land. Although One Way Ticket To Hell And Back was the far better album compared to Permission it flopped. So why is it in my list? Because it’s a brilliant album that’s why. I think that although One Way was musically brilliant the damage their reputation (joke band) had received had seriously damaged the band. The Darkness wanted this to be the album that changed all perceptions of them and musically I believe it did. The album was released like the classic vinyl albums with a gate-fold sleeve, 10 songs and both side 1 & 2 ending with a ballad. It didn’t get any better for the band after singer/songwriter Justin Hawkins left the band shortly after . Stand out tracks: Dinner Lady Arms, Is It Just Me, Bald, Girlfriend & Knockers.

Next I have chosen Blink 182s self titled album in 2003. This was the bands 5th and last release. They split in 2006. Early Blink was about being geeks, getting nowhere with girls & masturbation. 2003s album was more mature and the songs had a much darker feel to them. Subjects such as broken families & couples being separated by war were written about. At the beginning of one song an emotional letter that one of the band members Granddad wrote to his Grandma during the war read is read out. Blink had grown up. Drummer Travis Barker is the star of the show on this album with some arm numbing drumming. Barker laid down the tracks for the album in 1 day. Stand out tracks: Easy Target, Down, I’m Lost Without You & Feeling This.

In 2003 COLD released their 3rd album Year Of The Spider. It was also their best. Cold are a band that just like to make simple rock music. Unfortunately for them they had no backing from their label (Geffen) who refused to make videos or promote their albums. This album is superb there’s no other way to put it. The first 6 songs are possibly the strongest start to any album I can think of. Album subjects are about Rape victims, the death of Seattle’s icons & The pain that Cancer causes. One song, Kill The Music Industry is about being messed about by Record labels. This led to them being dropped from Geffen before the release of their final album. Singer Scooter Ward split the band up and started up new project When November Falls. Stand out tracks: Remedy, Suffocate, Stupid Girl & Wasted Years.

All Hope Is Gone is Slipknots 4th and newest album (released this August) and it’s a beast. The success of singers Corey Taylor’s side project Stone Sour made many fans wonder if there would ever be a new Slipknot album. The title is aimed the fans expectations - You think you have figured this band out?  Your’e wrong. Taylor describes the album as a combination of the darker moments from Iowa and Vol3. Song subjects are disaffection, Obsession, reflection, politics and religion. On the songs Butchers Hook a swipe is taken at Emo fans who slag off Slipknot for dressing up (they are famous for their masks) and putting on makeup yet do exactly the same bar the masks. This album is brutal, savage and makes your ears bleed. Can you take it? Stand out tracks:  Psychosocial, Snuff, This Cold Black & Vendetta.

American Idiot was released in 2004 and was Green Days 7th album. The album has sold over 15 million copies worldwide. American Idiot is a concept album and is based around the main character (and title of the song) Jesus Of Suburbia and his journey through America after leaving the town he hates. He soon meets up with other characters along the way in the form of (other song titles) St. Jimmy & Whatsername. Some say the main character is schizophrenic as He and St Jimmy are the same person.  The theme of the album is Rage V Love. Some of the songs are Green Days best work and this album was a dramatic change of sound and direction for the band . There are even two epic 9 minute songs. Stand out tracks: Boulevard Of Broken Dreams, Holiday, Homecoming & St Jimmy.

OK so I said I didn’t still like Nu-Metal but I’ve been thinking about it and I do like this album. Not as much as I did back in 2001 but it still kicked Ass for a while. For a short time Limp Bizkit were the biggest band on the planet. They were the first (and only?) Metal band to have a number one album and single at the same time in the UK. This album: Chocolate Starfish & The Hot Dog Flavoured Water sold by the millions. The songs Rollin’ & Take A Look Around shot Bizkit to the top of the music world. Limp Bizkit only released two more albumss of new material after this album. 2003s Results May Vary and 2005s The Unquestionable Truth Part 1. Part 2 never saw the light of day as the Nu-Metal fad was over and that spelt the end for Fred Durst and Co. Stand out tracks – Boiler, It’ll Be OK, The One and Livin’ It up.

Released in 2006 Come What(ever) May was Stone Sours second album. They are the side project of (although they were formed before) Slipknots singer Corey Taylor and guitarist Jim Root. Originally recorded as 19 track album, they eventually stripped it down to 12 songs with the other 6 (plus 1 ITunes exclusive) released on the deluxe version a few months later, CWM is an album packed with guitar riffs and thunderous drums. Subjects written about are Plastic bands in generation American Idol, quitting alcohol, possible nuclear wars and general rants about how the world these days is full of lies and bullshit. If you love music in your face then this album is a must. Stand out tracks: 30/30-150, Through Glass, Made Of Scars, Sillyworld & Zzyzx Road.

Bleed American (or Salt Sweet & Sugar as temporarily re-named after 9/11) was Jimmy Eat Worlds 3rd album. After being dropped by their previous label, things got so bad for the band they got jobs and were about to accept being a local pub band when DreamWorks came knocking and offered to release the new album in 2001. Imagine if the world had never heard this album? Catchy songs, harmonies & melodies all make this album a real treasure chest of tunes. Jim Adkins soft vocals is excellently placed to deliver good lyrics. They get heavy when they need to and know how to take it down a notch at exactly the right time. Song issues on this album are about trying times, taking chances, being in love and fresh starts. Stand out tracks are The Middle, Sweetness, Your House, Cautioners &  If You Don’t, Don’t.

Released in June 2006, Liberation Transmission was Lost Prophets 3rd and most commercial album to date. Gone was the screaming and the Nu-Metal sounding turntables had been muted. This was Lost Prophets aiming to capture a new and possibly younger audience. The songs on this album are dare I say have a more poppy feel while keeping the big chorus’s. Where I feel this album works is that on the first album its clear they are a Welsh band wanting to be American (Nu-Metal is dead!) and the second album albeit a good one is aimed at an American audience. The song issues on this album are making your mark in life, pain that death brings and making the right choices. Stand out songs: Standing On The Rooftops, 4AM Forever, Can’t Catch Tomorrow & Always All Ways.

City Of Evil is Avenged Sevenfolds (AX7 for short) 3rd album. This collection of songs sees a change in style especially from font man M Shadows who could no longer scream like he did on the first 2 albums due to strained vocal chords which led to an operation. Released in 2005 this album saw some hardcore fans dislike the album due to the change of style but it also helped AX7 gain a lot more to the fan base. If you like guitar solos then this is the album for you as they are long, finger numbing and here in abundance. A few of the fret shredding on this album have made it into the top 100 guitar solo lists. Songs subjects are the usual matter of drugs, sex, lost souls, betrayal and love. Stand out tracks The Beast And The Harlot, Seize The Day, Sidewinder, Burn It Down & Bat Country.

In 2006 dark rockers Hurt released their moody album Vol:1. The TOOL-esq sounding album is 12 songs about drug addiction, obsessive religion & pain caused from relationships. Vol:1 received critical rather than commerical acclaim for the album and is still now not a big seller by any means. Formed in 2000 Hurt had 2 albums released by an independent label before Vol:1 was released by Capitol Records. If you are a fan of the mega-selling band TOOL then you will love Hurt with their brand of atmospheric sounding rock music. Songs generally start of slow and build up into a crescendo of sound only then to starting fading away slowly at the end of each track. Stand out tracks: Shallow, Rapture, Overdose, Falls Apart & Losing.

Just missed out:

Your choices better? Let me know !!!

As you may have guessed I am massively into Rock/Metal. I have decided to list my top ten albums from the years 1985-99. This has been a very hard choice as most of my favourite music comes from that era. Those years for me are the golden age of music and the quality and sound will never be achieved again. So sit back and enjoy reading about my choices. Look out for part 2 coming soon albums from 2000 to present day.

Fishing For Luckies was originally released as a fan club only release in 1995 for the bargain price of £8. This the Wildhearts at their best or more specifically Ginger at his best. There are only 7 songs on this version but an extended 12 track version was released in 1996. Kerrang! gave the album 5/5 and said that Ginger was up there with John Lennon as one of the best song writers of all time. High praise indeed and fully justified. This mini album is full of timeless music. Most of the songs clock in at 7 minutes with the longest being 11 minutes. The stand out tracks are: Sky Babies, Inglorious, Do The Channel Bop & Geordie In Wonderland.

This was the follow up to the 30 million selling Slippery When Wet album. In my opinion this is Bon Jovi’s best album and proved that SWW was no fluke. Bon Jovi were under massive pressure to produce the goods again. They did. New Jersey has a cowboy theme running through it and all 12 songs are of the highest quality. They released the five songs as singles such was the success of the album.  One review I remember reading said  “Plug in your headphones, turn off the lights and prepare for the best musical journey you have ever had.” I couldn’t agree more. This album is full of Arena Rock anthems. Stand out tracks are: Born To Be My Baby, Stick To Your Guns, Wild Is The Wind & I’ll Be There For You.

Released in 1989 Skid Rows self titled debut album sent shock waves through the world of Rock music. After wrongly being tagged with the “new” Bon Jovi label before a song had even been heard. Skid Row proved that they were their own band from the first song and no Jovi Wannabees. At the helm they had one of the greatest singers of all time in Sebastian Bach who was 18 when he joined the band and just 20 when he recorded the album. The album was a massive success as was the follow up, Slave To The Grind released in 1991. Stand out tracks: 18 & Life, Youth Gone Wild, Big Guns, Sweet Little Sister and I Remember You.

Do you need any introduction to the biggest selling debut Rock album of all time? If you do where have you been? Released in 1987 this ripped up and spat out the script for Rock albums. Dirty guitars and lyrics with attitude helped Appetite sell 28 million copies. Never before had a Rock album caused such a storm. The original album cover was banned as it featured a robot rape scene but that only helped GNR become the worlds biggest band even quicker. After the release of the Use Your Illusion albums in 1991 the band went on a world tour for nearly 2 years and Axls ego caused the band to split shortly after.  Stand out tracks: Welcome To The The Jungle, Mr Brownstone, It’s So Easy, Nightrain and Rocket Queen.

In 1992 the sound & image of Rock music changed dramatically. For me Pearl Jam were head and shoulders above the rest of the bands from Seattle in the era of Grunge music. Ten was their debut album and was the reason (As well as Nirvana’s Nevermind) why glam metal died for over a decade (Glam metal has never recovered). Named after a band members Nans home made preserve, Pearl Jam’s Ten is a strong album from start to finish. While Poison and Ratt were writing about women and fast cars, Pearl Jam wrote about a child going into a school and blowing his class mates head off, abuse by a step-dad and abortion. Stand out tracks: Even Flow, Jeremy, Black, Alive & Porch.

Released in 1994 Far Beyond Driven was Pantera’s 3rd and best album. This album was immensely heavy. Pantera has released Cowboys From Hell and A Vulgar Display Of Power which were good solid albums but no one expected this beast from them. Pantera had one of the best metal guitarists of all time in Dimebag Darrell (who was tragically shot dead onstage in December 2004) and Far Beyond was just the place to show it. WIth Phil Anslemo spitting/screaming out vocals backed up by Vinnie Paul (brother of Dimebag) on Drums and Rex on Bass, Pantera had made the perfect Heavy Metal album. Stand out tracks 5 Minutes Alone, 25 Years, I’m Broken, Becoming & Throes Of Rejection.

Originally recorded as front mans Blackie Lawless’s solo album, Lawless was forced to changed his mind when fans begged him to release it under the WASP name. Released in 1992 The Crimson Idol is the story of a fictional boy called Jonathan Steel who is ignored by his parents and leaves home to become a Rock Star. He learns to play guitar and signs to a record label. Over the course of 10 songs it follows Jonathon’s problematic life and career. It ends with….I won’t spoil it. Go buy it. This album from start to finished is a phenomenal masterpiece. Stand out tracks are: Chainsaw Charlie (Murders In The New Morgue), Hold Onto My Heart, The Idol & The Great Misconceptions Of Me.

Ride The Lightning saw Metallica release one of the most classic metal albums of all time. Ride was the San Francisco quartets second album after their massively successful debut album Kill Them All. The album which consisted of only 8 songs clocking in at 47 minutes showed that Metallica went for quality over quantity. Suicide and the Electric Chair were a couple subjects of what the songs were about and there was also a 9 minute instrumental which closed the album. Listen out from some ground breaking bass playing from the late Cliff Burton. Stand out tracks are: Fight Fire With Fire, Fade To Black, For Whom The Bell Tolls & Creeping Death

Dr Feelgood is Motley Crues best album. That’s some statement considering they have had some classics down the years. Producer Bob Rock was brought in to get the best out of LA’s most dysfunctional band and he did just that. After the last two albums (Theatre Of Pain & Girls, Girls Girls) had been musically average from the Crue they needed to write some quality songs again. Bassist Nikki Sixx provided them. September 1989 saw Dr Feelgood released and debut in the US Billboard at #1. The album featured song Kick-start My Heart which was about Nikki’s overdose on the Theatre Of Pain tour. Other stand out tracks are: Slice Of Your Pie, Sticky Sweet, She Goes Down & Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away).

Only the 2nd English band to enter my top 10 of Essential Rock Albums. Released in 1990 Thunders debut album Back Street Symphony proved that Brits could still make good rock music after coming second best to American bands for a few years. Producer Andy Taylor (of Duran Duran fame) helped the band to create their blues rock sound with the occasional power ballad. Thunder have one of the best voices in rock in the form of front man Danny Bowles. BSS is filled with songs about the usual stuff, women, new starts, doomed relationships but also has a bit of fun with the song A Englishman On Holiday. Stand out tracks: She’s So Fine, Loved Walked In, Higher Ground, Don’t wait for me.

Just missed out:

So there’s my top ten if you think your top 10 is better then post your list and I’ll publish it.

This weeks treat for the ears are:

1) Slipknot – Vol 3: The Subliminal Verses

2) Slipknot – All Hope Is Gone

3) Ugly Kid Joe – Menace To Sobriety

4) EndeverafteR – Kiss Or Kill

5) Stone Sour – Come What (Ever) May