Comp Swap

exact33 wrote:

Your cdrs should be on the way soon Phoenix

and ghost - hopefully yours are to you now as they have not shown up at my house again

Alex

Thanks alex!

And damn thats a lot of gigs! Wish I wouldve known about that

SAXON1500 wrote:

Weird. I picked up Ice Cold July on my pawn shopping mission last week. Had no clue what it was about. Listened to it today and was impressed. Just now, I see this thread about them! WEEEEEIIIIIRRRRDDDD!!!!

"Untitled" is my favorite track. Gives me chills.

Ok sorry everyone I totally forgot to post a review of this so here goes!

This was from Pheonix Reign:

1. Stormwitch - Dance With The Witches, my first foray with the band starts out fast a furious good double bass, reminds me a bit of Wizard. Good stuff

2. Heavens Gate - Terminated World, I have Hell for Sale, this is much better typical heavy metal.

3. Athena - Every Word I Whisper, progressive power which is really good will venture more into this band!

4. Labyrinth - Crossroads, hit or miss with me and I really dig this, great drumming on this.

5. Millenium - The Power to Love, this more melodic AOR IMO reminds me of Masterplan.

6. Ten - Fear The Force, I have Babylon this is a little better not really my thing though!

7. Heavenly - Spill The Blood, oh yeah French heavy metal at it's best can't go wrong with this!

8. Lake Of Tears - Head On Phantom, first sounds I thought Sentenced who I like more goth orientated.

9. Dark Moor - The Chariot, symphonic power for which I love and had some earlier moor which I didn't care for but this grabs me!

10. Powerquest - Galaxies Unknown, melodic power ala Sonata epic feel to it at times the use of keys is very present, not bad!

11. Pyramaze - Ancient Words Within, I have this and Lance as always shines as he always does!

12. Headhunter - Unhuman World, I really really like this this is how heavy power metal should be ala Paragon, Iron Savior.................

13. Grave Digger - Spirits Of The Dead, have this love all Grave Digger
.
14. Fredom Call - Light Up The Sky, have this!

15. Poisonblack - Raivotar, heavy as hell reminds of Mercenary in it's heaviness but has some elements of goth!

16. Tarot - The Scourger, I have Crows Fly Back that was the first I heard from Tarot this to me just doesn't have what that has!

17. Viper - Cross The Line, not bad just the vocals kinda lack on this, they sound to low!

I hate doing reviews and I'm not all that great at writing them!

Wargod48

Toho migrated right in the middle of our Comp Swap V and he wanted some action too! This is one from him I'm reviewing. He put together a great one!

Kiuas - Across The Snow - Folk/Blackened/Powermetal-ish. How'd you know I'd love this? Never even heard of them but they're great! Really good tune!! Love the Folk/Pagan/Viking element.

Gun Barrel - Roll Of The Dice - Good Rock & Roll! Just good, fun stuff. Like the rough but very good vocals! Good harmony/group singing!

Monster Magnet - Powertrippin' - One of my 2-3 favorites from them. Just flat out good and fun! Great tune! When they're on they are so good. They plod along and get "cute" too often for me sometimes, but this is not one of those times! Good call! Hadn't heard this in years.

Child's Play - Day After Night - Another good fun rocker in this style you like so well that I'm really coming to like this last 1/2 year.

The 69 Eyes - Perfect Skin - Cool song and cool vocals. This one is unusual, but good.

Sabaton - Metal Crue - Uh........Oh, yeah!! I love this!! The Teutonic sound. The rolling rrrrr's. The speed, the deeply resonating vocals, the song writing!!

Babylon A.D. - Bang Go The Bells - A good to great song. This is in that style I've been seeking lately. Nice!

Warrior Soul - Ass Kickin' - Yes again! The title is so apt!!

Sentenced - Drain Me - It's good. Has a modern metal sound but I'm not one for whom that freaks out. If it's good, it's good.

Wolfstone - The Prophet - Slowing way down for me - but it's still not bad. I'd want this more epic if it's gonna be "light in the loafers" as I call it. It reminds me of ArkAngel which I liked long ago but can't get into anymore.

Johnny Crash - Axe to Wax - Another good rocker. Not standing out like the others but good party music. It would come out for such a setting but not be a private frequent flyer.

Nantucket - Heartbreaker - Good song writing. Good harmony. Good riffs! Nice Hammond! Something I'd prefer on vinyl. It's not bad for an oldie!

To/Die/For - Live Inside You - Nice rocker! Different vocals that remind me of The Cure. Not what I expected...

Wildhearts - Only One Hell - College Radio sounding. Just not enough umph!! for where I'm at these days. 12-15 years ago I'd probably been all over this.

Powerman 5000 - Top Of The World - NOT what I expected!!! I kept hearing a Drowning Pool sound. I "saw" them in Abilene Dec 2005 and this sounds better then I remember them. I went for Wicked Wisdom, though, who were opening. Jada...............(attatch Homer's drool noises here...............). This is a good tune!!

Killing Joke - Pandemonium - Has a Ministry sound to me in vocals, pacing and general feel. The only true "no go" on this Comp.

Rhino Bucket - Beat To Death Like A Dog - AC/DC worship!! I know, I know...but that's not a problem for me. I have AC/DC saturation syndrome so I can't listen to them but these bands that are similar "do it" for me. Good tune!!

Pretty Maids - Future World - Nice! Romps along nicely. Gravelly but good vocals. Clearly all very skilled with their instruments. Good tune.

Helloween - Perfect Gentleman - I love the Helloween I own but this song just falls flat for me. I think they're at their best when they are melodically flying along at a million miles an hour!!

Spread Eagle - Spread Eagle - Very nice! Nice "cock rock". Very raunchy, dirty, dirty party song. This is scratching that recent itch of mine!!



GREAT COMP!! One of the best I've ever recieved! Thanks dude!!

You're correct on the Ministry feel of that Killing Joke disc. That's why I love it.

(note to self; no Ministry sounding stuff for Scott)

Otherwise.....

It will be interesting to see what you think of KMFDM on that other comp. Part Ministry but with some soulful female vox.

"Bang Go The Bells" is great all the way through, my friend!

Great is in there!!

You spoiling for a fight??

What's not great?

Here is my take of disk two and three from the swap with SideShowDisaster, one is already posted. This was a really good playlist. I really enjoyed listening to all three cd's even though I didn't know any of the bands. Doing the review was harder than I thought it would be. How many times can you say good or I liked it. The one thing that really suprised me was the Metallica influence I heard in so many of these bands. I knew they had an influence on metal, but I guess I underestimated the impact they had.


1. Allegiance (Australia) – Destitution - Hate Frenzy
I hear a strong Mellica influence with a really cool bass line. A good listen

2. Toranaga (England)– God's Gift - The Shrine
This actually reminds me of Manowar, just a bit. I like the bass

3. D.A.M. (England)– Inside Out - Man of Violence
Fast. Cool solo. This has a distinct Metallica influence, which isn’t a bad thing. I guess I hadn’t realized how influential the band was.

4. Mottek (Germany)– Fatal Violence - Bury your Remorse
Like the guitar. Sounds like may be from the 80’s

5. Cold Steel (USA)– Freakboy - D.S.M / Hazardous to your Health
Promising. I like the guitar.

6. Psychosis (USA)– Lifeforce - Cold is this God
This reminds me of Metallica

7. Imagika (USA)– Worship - Court of Confusion
Like the guitar and bass. The solo is a little trippy. I like this one.

8. Dover Trench (USA)– Exhibition Of Speed - Punishment (A.S.D.)
I do like the solo.

9. Earthquake (Sweden)– The Truth - All the Truth
The vocals remind me of Hetfield. The guitar solo is awesome.

10. Phalanx (Germany)– The Judas Touch - Do you think...
Like the guitar, but the left and right channel push is extreme.

11. Mortal Sin (Australia)– Face Of Despair - I Am Immortal
Straight ahead thrash with good riffing and drums.

12. Eldritch (Japan)– Blood Breed Calls My Name - Shadow Fire
This has Loudness feel to it. The bass playing is cool. The guitar is really jamming. The vocals are a bit weak.

13. Mystrez (The Netherlands)– The Indictment - Intro: Voices / Schizophrenia
The beginning kinda reminds me of Annihilator. Like the guitar, but don’t care for the vocals.

14. Gama Bomb (Ireland)– Survival Of The Fastest - Hell Trucker
Fast like it should be. I can hear the motorhead influence. This is cool.

15. Risk (Germany)– The Daily Horror News - Roadwar
Big drums. Good vocals and killer guitar. This has a good production. I can hear the Accept influence. I will be looking into this band.

16. Steel Reign (USA)– Change To Insane - Cease to Exist
Crushing guitar, but it’s the bass guitar that pulls this song up. With that being said the riffing is good and the drums also add nicely to the song.

Disk three
1. Agony Column (USA) – Brave Words And Bloody Knuckles - Ultraviolet Rays
Pretty good heavy metal, if not trash. A distorted and fuzzy guitar held down with a good bass drum combo.

2. Dead Conspiracy (USA) – As you would have them do – As you would have them do
Reminds me of Living Colour and I like it.

3. Jersey Dogs (USA) – Thrash Ranch - Why is
Starts out as pure Metallica but slowly starts to develop an identity. The really cool bass and drum attack bring this song out. The vocals are ok and the guitar is Metallica all the way.

4. Blood Money (England) – Battlescarred - Wolfboat
Fast with a good guitar solo and decent vocals.

5. Addictive (Australia) – Pity Of Man - What ward R.U. In
Can here the Metallica / Megadeth influence and I like it. Worth checking out.

6. Vendetta (Germany) – Brain Damage - Conversation
Heavy with a punk edge. Buzzy guitar tone with good lead work.

7. Redrum (USA) – Power Corrupts - Frontline
This sounds like 80’s thrash. Thin production, but that adds to it.

8. Havoc Mass (USA) – Killing The Future - Scarred for life
This is heavy and fast like it should be. The guitar and bass are cool, but the bass steals the show.

9. United (Japan) – Bloody But Unbowed - (it’s So) Hard to Breathe
The guitar stands out on this as a fine example of thrash. Good, even if they never count past 3.

10. ADX (France) – Weird Visions - King of Pain
A lot of bass guitar, which is one thing I really like. The guitar is good too.

11. Intruder (USA) – Psycho Savant - Traitor to the Living
If it starts with a cymbal it’s got to be good, right. Well, yeah, right.

12. Rumble Militia (Germany) – Stop Violence And Madness - Save Yourself
Oh no. Did George Bush say naked. The double bass bangs out the beat while a some cool licks are laid on top of some really aggressive vocals. Really, some really good fret work.

Thanks, SideShowDisaster. I liked it.

scottmitchell74 wrote:

Gun Barrel - Roll Of The Dice - Good Rock & Roll! Just good, fun stuff. Like the rough but very good vocals! Good harmony/group singing!

I'm really curious about this band. I will see them in 3 weeks playing in a small club around the corner playing together with Rebellion. I have them already on my radar since 2005 when they placed a flyer at the windscreen wiper during the Motörhead concert at Cologne. But somehow I did not managed to hear more than some samples on there web page since then.

ghost wrote:

I'm really curious about this band. I will see them in 3 weeks playing in a small club around the corner playing together with Rebellion. I have them already on my radar since 2005 when they placed a flyer at the windscreen wiper during the Motörhead concert at Cologne. But somehow I did not managed to hear more than some samples on there web page since then.

I personally don't like the new Singer, I have all their releases and the original singer Guido was a far better vocalist in my opinion, he was on the first two albums "Battle Tested" & "Power-Dive" on their last album "Bombard your Soul" they brough in the vocalist Xaver Drexler and they didn't seem to pack the same punch as they did on the earlier releases. Excellent Heavy Metal band though and you'll enjoy yourself on the 20th, I'm looking forward to seeing Rebellion myself again at the Headbangers Open Air festival in July.

Yeah, I agree about the new vocalist.

journeyman wrote:

Thanks, SideShowDisaster. I liked it.

No problem man! I was actually kinda worried about the comps I had made when I heard how diverse the discs you sent me were. Glad I could help you find a bunch of new bands to check out!

Can I just ask what exactly this is? People make cdr compilations and trade them, and then have the other person review the songs individually?

Muloc7253 wrote:

Can I just ask what exactly this is? People make cdr compilations and trade them, and then have the other person review the songs individually?

Yes, that is how it works. This is a good opportunity to explore new bands and it is fun as well. You should jump in the next round if you like it

As said before, it was such a fun with the first compilation that Exact and I decided to exchange additional 3 CDs. Here is the review from the next, second comp from Exact:

Gotthard – Lift U Up
The second CD starts like the first one with Gotthard. But this one isn’t as good as “Master of Illusion from the first CD. It is not a bad one, it has its fun. Reminds me to some 70s Glitter Rock.

Angra – Heroes of Sand
This one is a highlight of the compilation; a bombastic Power Metal title. I’ve never heard this band before, but it definitely something to add to my want list.

Guarians of Time – On a New Era – Triptitcon
This is again a band that I haven’t heard of with a brilliant title. They remind me to bands like Stratovaris, Helloween and Masterplan or a mixture of those bands. Of course this is a candidate for my want list.

Impellitteri - Kingdom of Light
Like on the first comp again there is another title from Impellitteri. And like on the first CD this title has a super sound, good rock riffs and great catchy vocals. And finally another reminder for me that I have to get an album of this great band very soon.

Ensiferum - Deathbringer from the Sky
This one is one of my favorite’s albums since a while now. I put also another title from the same album on the comp for Exact. Best title on this CD!

Dragonforce - Through the Fire and Flames
This one was the first that considered me to buy the entire CD. In fact I had already ‘Valley of the Damned’ and ‘Sonic Firestorm’ from Dragonforce, but I think that ‘Inhuman Rampage’ is even better. Good choice, Exact.

Destynation - Rising Up
There is one highlight after the other on this CD. This one reminds me a little bit to HammerFall. But it is not a exactly clone they have an independent manner. This is another one for my want list.

Metal Law - Night of the Wolf
This is another band that I never heard of. The title reminds me to a mixture of Iron Maiden and Judas Priest. I have to listen deeper in this band.

Pride of Lions - Heaven on Earth
This is again a new band for me. The title is a good rocker that reminds me to Journey.

Black Bonzo - Thorns Upon a Crown
Black Bonzo was already introduced to me by Exact33 on comp disk one. And what I said there is also right for this one. Although that I liked ‘Lady of the Light’ a little bit more, this one is nearly equally good.

Firewind - Breaking The Silence (Feat. Tara)
This is also a band that I liked already from Exact33’s comp one. On this title I like the interplay of female and male vocals.

Black Hawk - Fight At Night
True 80s sounding Heavy Metal, fun, catchy and simple. I never heard of this band before.

Myrath - Fade Away
This is a brilliant tilte of another new band for me. They remind me a little bit to Symphony X, but not a clone, they have their own flavor.

Legend Maker – Story
This is a nearly 12 minutes Power Metal title with every in it what you can expect. Great guitar melodies and solos, double bass and strong vocals.


Exact continued with the second comp what he started with the first one. Once again he shows me his good taste of Power Metal. He gave me the chance to make me better familiar with bands indroduced on comp 1 and again I found many interesting bands that I never heard of before. Same as the first one, I liked every title on this comp.

It took me some time to post this review, because I hadn't much time the last weeks. I hope that I can make the reviews for comp 3 and 4 a little bit faster.

As I promised in my last post, I’m continuing the reviews of the additional compilations from Exact33.

Road to Ruin - The Only One
The first song is a good one, but nothing to get thrilled about. Anyhow it is a cool Rock title, nothing more and nothing less.

Armory - Warrior Forlorn
This one is better than the first one. The singer reminds me a little bit to a mixture of Geoff Tate and Bruce Dickinson. I have to listen to more titles of this band.

Eluveitie - Your Gaulish War
This one is one of the best titles on the comp. It has a lot of folk elements but still heavy with aggressive vocals. This goes on my want list.

Sieges Even - When Alpha and Omega Collide
This one is a progressive song, where you can find everything that is needed: tricky arrangements, gripping grooves, catchy hook lines, unexpected breaks, straight Rock parts combined with floating parts. It is again something for my want list.

Steel Assassin - Curse of the Black Prince
This is another highlight of the comp; a perfect True Metal tune with dueling guitars, smashing drums and exciting vocals. My want list grows again…

Vagh - To Hell and Back Again
This is very good titles with a typical 80s Rock sound with catchy melodies and a lot of power. I really like the singer.

Hidria Spacefolk – Symetria
Now an instrumental title which reminds me to some kind of Space Rock. I don’t know this band and I wonder how the singer would sound like?

Kosmos – Psycho
And another instrumental Space Rock title, that reminds me a little bit to Hawkwind. Screaming guitars, squeaking and bubbling synthesizers, pounding organ, bubbling bass… you know what I mean…

Burning in Hell - Little Indian Voice
Back to Power Metal! This a typical Power Metal title - nothing special about it, but I like that anyway…

Headstone Epitaph - The Game
This one is a amusing melodic Power Metal title. I would like to listen to more of them, this one is a good one.

Anekdoten - The War Is Over
This one took me a while; it is not so easy accessible. Some kind of melancholy, complex Prog. Not exactly my taste, but ok.

Povertys No Crime - Open Your Eyes
Another Prog one that isn’t so easy to grasp, but after a view listens it works.

Serenity - Reduced to Nothingness
This one fits a little bit more to my taste. It is powerful and reminds sometimes a little bit to HammerFall, but much more varied. This goes to my want list.

Olympus Mons - Seven Seas
This one is excellent with catchy melody and chorus. Never heard from this band before, but I like to here more of them.

Ozzy Osbourne & Dweezil Zappa - Stayin Alive....(Beegees cover)
Uhh… this one failed. I’m really a big fan of the madman, but I never liked the Bee Gees. Cruel. This one should be added here https://heartofmetal.niceboard.com/heart-of-metal-f1/worst-cover-song-by-a-metal-band-t2527.htm

Once again Exact33 has done a good compilation. This one was a little more uncommonly than the others and I must say that I liked the first two compilation a bit more. I didn’t know any band beside Ozzy, but beside Ozzy they were all good.

I'll come up with the review of comp 4 soon.

Locky wrote:

kmorg wrote:

I haven't even received mine yet

Join the club.

Count me as a member in that club. Niether have I seen a review for the ones I sent.

DallasBlack wrote:

Locky wrote:

kmorg wrote:

I haven't even received mine yet

Join the club.

Count me as a member in that club. Niether have I seen a review for the ones I sent.

If we ever do this again, these people are banned from entering!

Go on Kmorg, get another one started, I'm not gonna as my attempt failed miserably, It's surely time for another go ?

Haha, I'm one of the guilty ones! I hardly even listened to mine since we were in the middle of changing our floor, it got lost in the crap we call our home.

Sorry Spec!

So, will there be another round soon??
To bad that so many didn`t get theirs or didn`t write reviews..
I was very happy with the whole thing, and will join the next one, if there will be one...

If anyone wants to do it, then be my guest.