Updated 6th August 2003

Nevermore - Alligator Stew - Guido Priori - Queensryche - Jaugernaut - Holy Mother - Wildest Dream

All reviews by Andrea Bertamino except where noted

In a recent interview, Nevermore vocalist Warrel Dane described "Enemies of Reality" as a collection of "dark symphonic hymns of hatred and lament", which is fairly apt.

Nevermore "symphonic" is Wagnerian Ragnarok as opposed  to Mozart delicacy, framed by a  huge production from former Queensryche man Kelly Gray, that simply crushes every other album heard thus far this year.

Imagine an amalgam of Queensryche, Savatage, Priest all filtered through a mirror black crafted in the age of hi tech thrash (don't forget Dane sang with Sanctuary), and you will be coming close to what Nevermore is; simply one of the best metal bands on the planet with a singer in the aforementioned Dane who really should be regarded in the same light as Geoff Tate, Bruce Dickinson or Rob Halford.

The title track, a twisting coil of towering might, opens proceedings, with Jeff Loomis unfurling guitar lines that dazzle with their balance between power and melodic precision, while Warrel Dane's vocals carry a brooding, dark, echo of Tate.

If Metallica could recall what it means to be leaders not followers, they would have written something like the haunting menace of "Ambivalent", before the Pantera with melody and flow of "Never Purify" tears into the memory.

Nevermore are mature enough to understand the principles of light and shade, and mood, hence the Savatage noir of "Tomorrow turned into yesterday" which turns on a compelling vocal melody and Loomis complementary guitar lines.

Naturally, biting power is never far away, as on " I. Voyager" which churns like a bloodied sea atop Van Williams thunderous drum patterns, before it's chorus guides us into the very heart of darkness.

This is metal as it should be, writ large, applied with intelligence, and delivered with passion.

A stunning album.

http://www.nevermore.tv

by Andrew Paul

ALLIGATOR STEW "Welcome To Monticello... LIVE!!!" (Hogleg Records) Rating: 85

Alligator Stew from LA are obtaining many praizes in the southern rock scene both from the press and (mostly important) from the audience, with the former that nominated them as ‘Best Southern Rock Band in Los Angeles’, ‘Best Male Vocalist in Los Angeles’ (and Gary Jeffries when was in Asphalt Ballet signed for Virgin Records in 1991 and had his own video for eight weeks on the top of MTV viewers favours beating out acts like Tesla, The Cult, Infectious Grooves, etc) and ‘one of the top 100 unsigned bands in the nation’ and from what I hear on this cd I can say these arguments are true.

The Lynyrd Skynyrd and The Outlaws southern rock feeling, the dust of sunny and desertic American roads riding Harley Davidson, the blues, this is what you’ll find in "Welcome To Monticello" completed by four ‘studio tracks’, the whole treated with passion and skill able to flame the fans, even if I’d better have enjoyed a rawer and harder guitar sound.

Anyway let’s go with the funny boogie rock "Doesn't Really Matter", the beautiful and emotionful ballad "Blood Money", the rebel heart of "Two Wheels", the lively "You Gotta Give" with a powerful guitar/Hammond action.

There also few covers such as the medley of the always good to be heard "Green River" (Creedence Clearwater Revival) and the classic tune "Suzie Q", plus Bob Seger’s "Turn The Page".

The four new strudio tracks confirm that Alligator Stew are ready for the ‘big jump’ with that mix between Lynyrd Skynyrd, Cinderella, Tangier, Creedence Clearwater Revival, The Outlaws and Charlie Daniels Band that in The States always rises its share of interest and also in the old Europe counts on a small but faithful number of fans.

Contacts: http://www.alligatorstew.com

GUIDO PRIORI "Tribute To Journey" (Self Produced) Rating: 80

Italian singer (he’s from Milano) Guido Priori started his musical career early in the ‘80s with Sauvage (inspired by Iron Maiden, Trust, Scorpions, UFO and featuring the song "All Night Long" in the Italian metal compilation called "Italian Metal Vol.1" beneath historical names such as Steel Crown, RAF and Hocculta), prosecuted in bands with a more melodic approach like Mr Bryan, the first Italian tribute band to Bryan Adams, and Problem Child (another tribute band, this time to Ac/Dc) both playing several appreciated concerts also in Europe.

Early this year Guido recorded a tribute album to Journey with which he gained the approval from the American official fan club of Neal Schon’s band and, after ‘breaking the balls’ in some forums with this cd, we might see him soon signing for a label willing to produce this particular kind of tribute being realized by a band and not by a ‘motley crue’ of different musicians.

Now I’m introducing you the demo version of such project that has a nice if compared with the short time available to make it, a cd covering both the classics and the less knows songs of the American band like "Anyway You Want It", "Stone In Love", "Be Good To Yourself", "Who’s Crying Now", "Girl Can’t Help It", "Suzanne", "Wheel In The Sky", "Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’", "Don’t Stop Believin’" and "Open Arms".

To the sound factor mentioned above, I have to add a little cricitism because I feel the lack of some ‘drive’ to the rhythm to make the whole more dynamic, and a too conformistic decision to perform songs too similar to the original versions, but all in all the final result is pretty good.

The cd sent to me also includes tracks from Priori’s previous experiences like two nice AOR tunes (with Italian lyrics) from the 1995 album by Paolo Morbini (later drummer with Eva who have a recent album released by Point Music), or the well performed "Bad Boy Boogie", "Live Wire", "Sin City", "Shot Down In Flames" by Problem Child, plus an amateurish live recording of Toto’s "Home Of The Brave".

Ok, you can visit his site and download some mp3, then we’ll see how things evolve and Guido is now working again with Paolo Morbini to realize a new Morbini’s solo album, this time with English lyrics.

Contacts: http://gpriorijourneytribute.homestead.com

Let's be brutal. All those expecting, nay demanding, "Operation Mindcrime" or "Empire" revisited may as well turn back now, and return to the comfort zone of your memories. "Tribe" is not such a beast, and why would it be, musically and intellectually the guys from Queensryche are in a different place from that of a decade ago, as most of us are.

As Geoff Tate's liner notes makes clear, lyrically "Tribe" is a journey in search of both place and self, and the shifting moods of such a subject dovetail perfectly with the dark balance of mood and power the music offers.

The album cruises in with the Kasmir via Seattle stately elegance of "Open" with Tate alternating between languid East and a more classic urgent approach on the chorus, while the sample palette and Bowie-esque guitar lines of "Losing Myself recall Tate's underrated solo album.

Chris De Garmo is now a figure again in the Ryche plan, if on the fringes, and the acoustic led co-write with Tate of "Falling behind" suggests that he could still have much to offer, as does another co-write with Tate the brooding adventure of "the Art of Life" which recalls a more organic "Rage for Order" and is the album's tour de force.

Tate again demonstrates his command of a voice that must be regarded as one of the greats. His performance on "Rhythm of Hope" with it's rich tones, it's understanding of mood, it's fearlessness is worth the price of admission , as is the playful urgency of the deceptively simple "Blood".

On the evidence of "Tribe" Queensryche are, as the reflective final track states "Doin' Fine". Granted it's not "Empire" but if a cocktail of "Rage for Order" , Promised Land" and Tate's solo album intrigues, then you buy this album, a piece of work that, as time may demonstrate ,gives us cause to treasure Queensryche once more.

by Andrew Paul

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of originale release, Jaugernaut (from Olympia, Washington) print for the first time on cd their second album adding four bonus tracks written and recorded towards the end of thd ‘90s somehow announcing a possible third album. Meanwhile, let’s taste the pomp/AOR of the ten original tracks that unfortunately have an early ‘80s indy sound so it’s not of the best around, anyway it’s enough to let us listen the nice harmonies performed by the four piece consisting of Jim Valentine (gt, vc, keyb), Jeff Wade (dr), Geoff Woodhouse (keyb) and Jim Johnston (vc, bs).

The most evident refferences bring us to Styx, Sheriff, Boston, Kansas and even to Starcastle and to Rush of the very early ‘80s, with a great use of keyboards, pianos, choruses, melodies and instrumental passages, the whole with a sound optimism that makes even more catchy the flow of songs like "Love You I Do", "Anti-Freeze", "Forget Me", "On Top Of The World" (on this one the Rush circa "Moving Pictures" play a more important role than elsewhere) and "Lucky".

The urgent "Trendsetters", the mid tempo "Enough Is Enough" and the semi ballad "2 Or 3 Years" show a more mature and serious side of Jaugernaut whose more dramatic lines come from a mix of epic tension and pompous licks.

About the four new tunes, written between 1997 and 1999 and taken from a series of demos, I can tell you that they are more adult and less ìlove-at-first-sight’ than the older stuff, althought they’re into the well known rock-circus with a huge melodic orientation and among these "Totally Human", the most worked on and also the one more prog oriented, is my most loved track.

So, fans of the above mentioned bands can get closer without fear to "Take Em There" (I repeat that the particurarly the drums are weak as sound, and it takes five points out of the final rating), an album that in 1884 was marked by the labels as ‘undanceworthy’ (whatever it means) having no fault in the songwriting or in the arrangements, wishing them that the new century/millennium gives them greater attention.

Contacts: http://www.jaugernaut.com

Over the bulk of the last decade, Holy mother, has been responsible for some of the purest, and finest heavy metal ever to be unleashed from the halls of Valhalla. Now essentially a vehicle for vocalist extraordinaire, Mike Tirelli, but featuring contributions from Randy Coven, Wayne Banks, Frank Gilchriest, and Herman Frank ( who shares production chores with Tirelli), and with a new berth for them at SPV, there is a sense that Holy Mother's time is now nigh.

Tirelli is on a mission, paring back his voice to a higher register Hetfield sneer, although he does still remind of us of his Halford qualities every so often. Equally the music is pared back, down tuned a step or two and geared to have no patience with prisoners.

Opener "Success" is Megadeth meets Dream Theatre circa "Awake" riff patterns, with Tirelli giving it a knowing cynicism before erupting into Halford nuts bitten by a bulldog territory.

"Modern Day God" is metal Sweet, before Wayne Banks' bass line drive Tirelli's vocals into hyper sneer, Herman Frank's guitar  boosting the required crunch factor.

The production is dry enough to allow the songs and performances to breathe without tripping into Metallica type excursions into nu-metal look at us and our credibility garagelands, as emphasises by the title track that could have been one of the better songs on Priest's "Jugulator", while "Hungry For Exxstacy" is Crue meets classic Accept.

Granted marks are deducted for the cover of Sabs' "Never Say Die". Quite why Tirelli feels the need to imitate an old ham such as Osbert Ozburp is beyond me, while "Society Anxiety" cannot fathom whether it's a nubreed Sabs or classic Sabs.

Still Holy Mother, along with the likes of Nevermore, rank in the forefront of metal bands, and whilst not their best effort, "Agoraphobia" crushes most of the opposition.

by Andrew Paul

Wildest Dream consist in the multi-instrumentalist Arin Vahanian and in singer Tony Vendel, both with several experiences in the past, today realizing a three-tracks demo devoted to the classic ‘80s AOR having in Journey and Alias the main inspiration muses, with the production pretty weaker and to be considered as a ‘hey, here we are’ release. In facts, Arin and Tony will have to work hard in the sound, arrangements and production departments if they want to receive attention by listeners and labels.

That said, opener "Believe" is a midtempo pretty close to Hugo and Street Talk, more the mentioned Journey and Alias, that absolutely need massive keyboards inserts to fill the catchy melodies, with following "Never Say Goodbye" and "Every Time" carrying along pros and cons of the first songs.

Nothing new under the AOR sun and the raw production makes even less appealing this demo to which some repetetive lines of guitar give a paint of boreness, but also let’s look at the positive aspects, and we can find some here: melodies and songwriting are pretty good, so they have to put some meat over the bones! I hope that WD will read my words as an incouragement to improve their next moves and reach with satisfaction a wide slice of listeners.

Contacts: http://utenti.lycos.it/wildestdream , e-mail wildestdream@lycos.it