On this, Dio's 3rd album, the same line up as on the two previous albums continued their march towards the charts all over the world with their melodic but powerful heavy metal with super strong vocals by former Black Sabbath singer Ronnie James Dio. 1985 was also the year of the big breakthrough for poodel hairs and melodic hardrock when many bands turned softer but Dio stayed true to the heaviness they were known for even though more melodic keyboardbased tracks were included even here, but not so much it hurts. Probably the reason guitarrist Vivian Campbell left the band before the next album was that he wanted to play melodic hardrock, which he did in Whitesnake and later in Def Leppard. The album peaked an nr.29 in USA and nr.4 in GB. An good album and an album that shows how good hardrock could be in the middle of the 80's. Nice cover.

1)King of rock and roll (8,5) Live. Intense, driving and great heavy metal!

2)Sacred heart (8,0) Slow, heavy, melodic and great, strong vocals by Dio.

3)Another lie (8,0)

4)Rock'n'rock children (7,5)

5)Hungry for heaven (6,5) Too melodic.

6)Like the beat of a heart (8,0)

7)Just another day (7,5) First good and rocking but the last minute is not good.

8)Fallen angels (8,0)

9)Shoot shoot (6,5) Unfortunately another cheesy refrain.

Score: 7,61

Ronnie James Dio-vocals (1942-2010)

Vivian Campbell-guitars (b.1962)

Jimmy Bain-bass (b.1947)

Vinny Appice-drums (b.1957)

Claude Schnell-keyboards

Sweden's Enforcer return with another album of retro early 1980's style Iron Maiden, NWOBHM, speed metal and some very early Mötley Crüe. So this is old school metal and they make it damn good! Very fast songs and the production is also very 80's, not the best but rough and you better turn the bass to maximum to get more power, even if this band produces enough power in their songs! Listen, play air guitar, headbang and enjoy! The only negative thing about this album is that it can be too much to listen to the same tempo almost all the time, but the playing time is quite short so maybe that's no problem anyway. Compared to the last album the vocals are much better.

1)Bells of Hades (-) Intro.

2)Death rides this night (8,5)

3)Run for your life (8,0)

4)Mesmerized by fire (8,0)

5)Take me out of this nightmare (8,0)

6)Chrystal suite (8,0) Instrumental.

7)Sacrificed (7,5)

8)Silent hour/The conjugation (8,0)

9)Satan (8,5)

Score: 8,06

Olof Wikstrand-vocals and guitars

Joseph Tholl-guitars

Tobias Lindqvist-bass

Jonas Wikstrand-drums

This is the first country album I write about. I know there's a LOT of country music around but it ain't my first, or even second priority when it comes to music, but in this album I found some really good stuff! On Bentley's 5th album he puts some bluegrass in he's country and I find some real passion and feeling in these songs. Ecspecially the singing talks to me. I can't help singing along! The album reached nr. 9 on the Billboard chart so it seems he's a well known artist over there. Most important with this album is that it features COUNTRY, not pop!

There's many guest artists on the album, such as The Punch Brothers, Chris Thile, Miranda Lambert, Jamey Johnson, Del McCoury, Alison Krauss and Kris Kristofferson.

1)Up on the ridge (7,0)

2)Fallin' for you (7,0)

3)Senor (tales of yankee power) (8,0)

4)Rovin' gambler (7,5)

5)Draw me a map (8,0)

6)Bad angel (8,0)

7)Fiddlin' around (6,5)

8)You're dead to me (7,5)

9)Pride (in the name of love) (6,0) U 2-cover, not the best version I've heard.

10)Love grows wild (7,5)

11)Bottle to the bottom (6,5) With Kris Kristofferson.

12)Down in the mine (7,0)

Score: 7,21

Dierks Bentley-vocals and guitars (b.1975)

+

many many guest artists.

The British heavy rockers Saxon's 20th album! Time flies! This album goes back to more classic heavy metal that Saxon got their breakthrough with in the early 80's, even though it's of course updated to modern technology. What is good is that it sounds good, and what can it do with the almighty Andy Sneap involved in making the album. He has created a great thundorous and powerful sound and the songs are heavy and really really good, I actually haven't heard this band as good as this for a long time, this is a great album well worth the money it costs! The old fellow still rocks! Buy buy buy!

1)Procession (-) Pompous intro.

2)Sacrifice (8,0) Ultra heavy and damn powerful pure heavy metal!

3)Made in Belfast (7,5) More melodic with a fist raising chorus.

4)Warrior of the road (9,0) Back to the metal! Pounding fast heavy metal.

5)Guardians of the tomb (8,0) Good!

6)Stand up and fight (9,0) Heavy and melodic, just the way I like it!

7)Walking the steel (7,5)

8)Night of the wolf (7,5) Sounds very much like melodic Saxon in the end of the 80's.

9)Wheels of terror (7,5) Slower but heavy. Unfortunately the album looses tempo in the end.

10)Standing in a queue (7,5)

Score: 7,94

Biff Byford-vocals (b.1951)

Paul Quinn-guitars (b.1951)

Doug Scarratt-guitars

Nibbs Carter-bass (b.1966)

Nigel Glockler-drums (b.1953)