• Paul Di'Anno - Tales from the Beast (2019)

    Every now and then, Paul Di'Anno comes around with yet another compilation or newly recorded versions of the tracks he sung when he was in Iron Maiden four decade ago. Tales from the Beast is no exception and throws in some other cover songs of Megadeth, Michael Jackson and Van Halen as well as a few of Paul Di'Anno's own tunes. This compilation is apparently going to support a documentary about the singer that should see the light of day very soon. Apparently, the aged veteran has been inspired by Bruce Dickinson's Scream for Me Sarajevo compilation and documentary released last summer. Paul Di'Anno has been kicked out of his own band Architects of Chaoz and needs to pay some expensive medical bills which explains this release strategy.

    If you already own one of the numerous other compilations such as The Classics - The Maiden Years released thirteen years earlier, then there really is no need to purchase Tales from the Beast. If you however don't own such a compilation and like the early years of Iron Maiden, you might as well pick up this record that convinces with seventeen songs and a generous running time of seventy-six minutes. Newly recorded tracks like the energetic punk-driven Skyhooks cover ''Women in Uniform'', the gloomily atmospheric Iron Maiden classic ''Killers'' and the wonderful eerie progressive rock pearl ''Strange World'' by Iron Maiden are timeless classics that have therefore aged very well. The musicians involved in the songs perform with tight chemistry and Paul Di'Anno's emotional vocals stray at times from the original recordings by adding a few more growls and screams here and there to amplify the energy level.

    Not all songs sound great as this compilation also includes some filler material. The cover of Megadeth's ''Symphony of Destruction'' is a head-scratcher to say the least. The instrumental performance is anything but impressive and the overtly emotive vocals don't fit at all. It seems that Paul Di'Anno has completely misunderstood the intention of the original version. The idea to cover Led Zeppelin's ''Kashmir'' wasn't Di'Anno's greatest either as the track plods on unspectacularly for nearly eight minutes without ever coming remotely close to the haunting atmosphere of the original progressive rock classic. Michael Jackson's ''Bad'' is also covered without any fresh ideas and fails to stay on your mind.

    In the end, the majority of songs on Tales from the Beast are performed with tight musicianship and emotional vocals but there are also some odd fillers every now and then. If you like Paul Di'Anno's vocals and want to support the veteran, you can purchase this album but everyone else should stick to the original material and rather wait for the upcoming documentary about the famous singer.

    Final rating: 67%

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  • HammerFall - Dominion (2019)

    HammerFall seems to be on autopilot these days since Dominion is almost an exact copy of predecessor Built to Last. The band offers melodic mid-paced traditional heavy metal with catchy choruses, epic choirs and skilled guitar play. While records like r(E)volution had some immediately appealing tracks, the material on Dominion takes a few spins to grow but especially the album's second half makes it an overall enjoyable experience despite its bland approach.

    Heavy stomper ''Dead by Dawn'' has a chorus supported by background shouts that should be sung by thousand of fans in concert. Up-tempo track ''Bloodline'' convinces with an uplifting melodic chorus of epic proportions. Closer ''And Yet I Smile'' starts as power ballad but evolves into a passionate heavy metal song with soulful vocals and optimistic lyrics and might overall qualify as album highlight that ends an average release on a truly convincing note.

    There really isn't much to say about HammerFall's Dominion. The album offers the mid-paced traditional heavy metal you have come to expect. The skillful vocals, technically appealing guitar play and sincere heavy metal spirit of the veterans keep this record away from mediocrity. Fans of the band will like this album while those who resent the band might qualify this output as yet another exchangeable scoop of vanilla metal. Don't buy this record and support a younger band but make sure to catch the Swedish veterans on tour instead.

    Final rating: 60%

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  • Frankfurt 2019: Airport

    Frankfurt 2019: Airport

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  • Mesdames et Messieurs!

    Les Pet Shop Boys sont un duo de synth-pop, sophisti-pop, pop, dance-pop et Electronic Dance Music de Londres en Angleterre. Le groupe a été formé par Neil Tennant au chant et clavier et par Chris Lowe au synthétiseur en 1981. La composition du groupe n'a jamais changé en près de quatre décennies.

    Les premiers simples du groupe ont été publiés en 1984 et le groupe a également donné son tout premier concert dans la même année. Le duo a signé avec la maison de disques Parlophone en 1985 et le premier album Please qui est sorti en 1986 est devenu un classique de la musique pop. Le groupe a continué à vaguer sur ce succès avec son deuxième album Actually qui a été publié en 1987. Le duo était alors parmi les groupes pop les plus influents au milieu des années quatre-vingts. Les Pet Shop Boys ont connu leur plus grand succès commercial avec leur cinquième album Very qui est sorti en 1993.

    Le mélange de chant doux presque efféminé, clips vidéos artistiques, costumes extravagants, mélodies mémorables et paroles intelligentes distingue le groupe de bien de groupes pop populaires. Les concerts sont également très inspirants du côté visuel. De plus, le groupe collabore régulièrement avec de nombreux autres musiciens et chanteurs et ne cesse à explorer de nouveaux horizons tout au long de sa carrière. Le groupe a également créé des versions alternatives pour des musiciens et groupes de musique tels que David Bowie, Robbie Williams et Rammstein. Les Pet Shop Boys sont également devenus un symbôle important pour le mouvement LGBTQI+.      

    "West End Girls" (1985)

    "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" (1986)

    "Suburbia" (1986)

    "It's a Sin" (1987)

    "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" (1987)

    "Left to My Own Devices" (1988)

    "Go West" (1993)

    "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)" (1996)

    "Love Etc." (2009)

    "The Pop Kids" (2016)

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  • Mesdames et Messieurs!

    Les Pet Shop Boys sont un duo de synth-pop, sophisti-pop, pop, dance-pop et Electronic Dance Music de Londres en Angleterre. Le groupe a été formé par Neil Tennant au chant et clavier et par Chris Lowe au synthétiseur en 1981. La composition du groupe n'a jamais changé en près de quatre décennies.

    Les premiers simples du groupe ont été publiés en 1984 et le groupe a également donné son tout premier concert dans la même année. Le duo a signé avec la maison de disques Parlophone en 1985 et le premier album Please qui est sorti en 1986 est devenu un classique de la musique pop. Le groupe a continué à vaguer sur ce succès avec son deuxième album Actually qui a été publié en 1987. Le duo était alors parmi les groupes pop les plus influents au milieu des années quatre-vingts. Les Pet Shop Boys ont connu leur plus grand succès commercial avec leur cinquième album Very qui est sorti en 1993.

    Le mélange de chant doux presque efféminé, clips vidéos artistiques, costumes extravagants, mélodies mémorables et paroles intelligentes distingue le groupe de bien de groupes pop populaires. Les concerts sont également très inspirants du côté visuel. De plus, le groupe collabore régulièrement avec de nombreux autres musiciens et chanteurs et ne cesse à explorer de nouveaux horizons tout au long de sa carrière. Le groupe a également créé des versions alternatives pour des musiciens et groupes de musique tels que David Bowie, Robbie Williams et Rammstein. Les Pet Shop Boys sont également devenus un symbôle important pour le mouvement LGBTQI+.      

    "West End Girls" (1985)

    "Opportunities (Let's Make Lots of Money)" (1986)

    "Suburbia" (1986)

    "It's a Sin" (1987)

    "What Have I Done to Deserve This?" (1987)

    "Left to My Own Devices" (1988)

    "Go West" (1993)

    "Se a vida é (That's the Way Life Is)" (1996)

    "Love Etc." (2009)

    "The Pop Kids" (2016)

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