No,TSR(True Symphonic Rockestra) is not your everyday Symphonic metal/rock experience.You can’t rely on my word?Oh,then listen to what GIFTIG/TSR guitarist Dirk Ulrich had to say.

“We have a Fear Factory version of O Sole Mio“.

Well,if you do not know “O Sole Mio” it’s not my fault,you’ve been living under a rock,or more likely in front of your P.C.I remember talking about a heavy metal version of this master piece with my friend Chathuranga Fonseka(Frontman:Funeral in Heaven) when we were singing this with our colleagues at out Speech and Drama class.Well Chathuranga,these guys did it for us pal!

The concept of The 3 Rock Tenors and the True Symphonic Orchestra was born in the head of Dirk Ulrich(GIFTIG Guitarist & independent Producer),while he was recording with a hardcore metal band and two other heavy metal singers doing background vocals.The concept had since evolved from having 3 metal vocalists to cover “the best of” repertoire of “The 3 Tenors”(Luciano Pavrotti,Placido Domingo and Jose Carreras) to two classic tenors(Thomas Dewald,Vladimir Grishko) and one rock tenor(Dream Theater’s James LaBrie).However considering the quality of the tracks available for dowload on the TSR media page it is not exagggeration to say this music “lierally blows you over”

As I’ve already said this in my “About” page,I do not intend to present what appears in  other sites in my own words.So without describing the project let me move on to the actual music.

Combining heavy metal with classical music is not new to metal heads around the world.To be honest,“the classical roots of metal are so obvious” than of any other non-classical music form.Of course this kind of work has been done before,but honestly a Fear Factory version of “O Sole Mio”?That’s too hot to just ignore,right?

The initial thought that me after I listened to the three downloadable tracks was,”They should have called it the Rochestra not Rockestra,I wanted more guitars!!!”.Maybe that’s a side-effect of being a guitarist,you always want more guitars!But after a few listens I was convinced that this music is perfect,and there’s nothing left to be spoken.

Granada,starts with a bang,ends with a bang.Add flashy solos,loads of double bass,piercing violins and top class operatic vocals with lots of vibrato in between and you get the basic idea of TSR.The guitar towards the end of the song,clearly portrays the “Metallica” influence in Dirk.“Very Hammety” will describe it best I think. The metallers will be rolling their eyes when they first hear Libiamo Ne’ Lieti Calici,but when Paul Mayland pounds on the drums,they’ll want to too.I call it an absoloute masterpeice,this was so different from what I expected to hear.Absoloutely Ace TSR,absoloutely Ace.The legendary Nessun Dorma is pretty much the same,except for bomber bass and the drums.

Speaking to Rita Bayer of Progressive Rock One-Stop,Dirk revealed that Madame Caballe(worked with the late Freddy Mercury-Queen) and the late Luciano Pavrotti were very happy by the sounds of TSR during the experimental stages.It is also said Madame Caballe went on to call it as a perfect approach  young people with classical music.Well,Madame Caballe,the metal heads are always ready,I think some classical fans will need to open their minds a bit more!Some…. 

Their debut album “Concerto in True Minor” will be released on the 28th of February,2008.Considering the songs available for download,it’s pretty much obvious that we will  get what the long wait deserves!

I have one question Dirk,if Freddy Mercury was alive,who would be your pick?Freddy or James?

Greek power metal gods Firewind revealed the tracklisting of their forthcoming album “The Premonition” on their myspace page.The third track off the album,”Mercenary man”,also to be released as a single in Greece,can be streamed at the band’s myspace page.”The Premonition” is scheduled to be released in Europe on the 24th of March.According to Firewind’s myspace blog,the tracks are as follows;

1. Into the fire.
2. Head up high.
3. Mercenary man.
4. Angels forgive me.
5. Remembered.
6. My loneliness.
7. Circle of life.
8. The silent code.
9. Maniac.(cover of 80’s pop hit from the movie Flashdance).
10. Life foreclosed.

According to the Firewind axeman Gus.G “….the CD,starts out with a pretty intense song “Into the fire”,which is like a six and half minute riffing,shredding and double bass madness,the next few are what I’d call modern hard rock-if I have to put a tag on it.”

You heard him friends,”Modern Hard Rock”!!!

Commenting on inspirations and the sound of the forthcoming album,Gus.G stated “I think there’s a lot of cool guitar stuff all over the album and generally this is a more guitar-oriented effort.”(Well,obviously,because Firewind have always produced guitar-oriented music.)“….Our influences draw from Thin Lizzy to Black Sabbath and Megadeth and you can clearly hear that on the riffs and guitar melodies.”That’s quite true,by judging the very Thin Lizzy-sque “Mercenary man”.

Considering “Mercenary man”,Firewind seem to have yet again produced a masterpiece that not only stays true to their Power/speed metallic roots,but also good rock ‘n’ roll that kicks ass.Gus.G also commented on not changing the typical Firewind sound much(“much” being the key word here) and the chemistry within the band.”Song writing-wise I think a ll songs are special and once again everyone was involved in the writing-we basically kept the Allegiance “winning team” together.”They sure have,but while listening to “Mercenary man” the first impression I had was “Wow,if only Chity sang this instead of Apollo”.Not that Apollo is a bad singer or anything,but honestly this new-yet-typical Firewind sound literally suits ex-vocalist Chitral “Chity” Somapla.

According to the band,the name “The Premonition” was suggested by the Drummer Mark Cross.”The Premonition” was recorded at Studio Fredman,Sweden and mastered by Peter in de Betou’s Tailor Made Productions.For more information visit Firewind’s myspace page here.

“What Records”,UK revealed three limited-edition single formats of Children of Bodom’s “Blooddrunk” single.

• 12″ picture disc- (1000 copies worldwide)   

1. Blooddrunk.
2. No commands(“Stone” cover)+COB Sticker.

• 7″ vinyl single-(1000 copies worldwide)

1. Blooddrunk.
2. Lookin’ out my back door(Creedence Clearwater Revival cover). 

• Enhanced single CD-

1. Blooddrunk.
2. Rebel yell(Billy Idol cover).
3. Blooddrunk video.

According to COB’s myspace site,their much anticipated album “Blooddrunk” will be released on April 15th,this year.The track listing are as follows,as expected ”Banned from Heaven” is available for streaming.The supposed album art is also revealed.

1. Hellhounds on my trail.
2. Blooddrunk.
3. Lobodomy.
4. One day you will cry.
5. Smile pretty for the devil.
6. Tie my rope.
7. Done with everything,die for nothing.
8. Banned from heaven(available for streaming on myspace).
9. Roadkill morning.

Considering the technically miraculous “Banned from heaven”,I can guarantee that Bodom are in for thrashier,louder,nastier ride that they’ve ever taken and they are ready to throw it “IN YOUR FACE”!And hell yeah!you are more than welcome Alexi!!!

“technically dazzling”-The New York Times.

Well,”Scream Aim Fire” is an album full of surprises,I’ll tell you that.The title track, “Scream Aim Fire”,bangs with a very thrashy,power metallic drum intro.To keep it simple;very Bullety,very thrashy,lots of combos,amazing vocals,no need to say more.Literally a banger!!”Eye of the storm” too keeps the gas pumping,keeps the momentum up,indicating the album is going to be one hell of a thrashy ride.These two tracks taste very political indeed,add a very political looking cover to it,to double it up.It’s not a bad thing but talking to MTV Headbangers’ Blog,Matt Tuck claimed that the album has no political content at all!!!I said this is full of surprises.To download the full podcast interview click here.

The third track takes the whole “Scream Aim Fire” experience in a totally different direction.”Hearts burst into fire” starts with a “promisingly power-ballady” intro which showcases the softer side of Bullet.To fans who seek the heavier,thrashier side of BFMV,this track might take some time to grow into.For me honestly it took a couple of listens,and no wonder too,I am not much of a Fall Out Boy fan!!!

“Waking the demon” literally awakens the demon in you,that was sleeping during the third track.If there was an award for the best track listening,this album should get it this year,especially since Bullet For My Valentine is not an AOR band.

The next track “Disappear” sounds a lot a like the Bullet we knew from The Poison.Lots of combo shredding,dual kick drums,the obvious Welsh accent and the slightly emoish lyrics,I mean doesn’t that sound like Bullet For My Valentine to you???But the most significant change you might notice is that the bass beast Jason has become over the few years!!!

“Deliver us from evil” is my personal favourite out of the album,that is after the title track.Heard of a band called Van Halen?Stupid question,but the intro reminded me a lot of Van Halen.Once again this is another song where Bullet does what we’ve known as Bullet.This is somewhat an appetizer to prepare the listener for the very GLAMORIZED songs to come by in the next few minutes.

“Take it out on me”(feat:Benji Webbe-Skindred),”Last to know” and “End of days” feature some of the new elements Bullet have brought in.They clearly show the symptoms of Evolution but the wonderful thing is they are doing that while still being the metalcore band from Bridgend,Walse.

Songs “Say goodnight” and “Forever and always” are definitely for the GLAM fans.Amongst “Poion/Warrant” sounding power-chords Michael “Padge” Padget still shreds like a beast though.I said something about surprises!!!

In the special Japanese Edition BFMV covers “No easy way out”,the famous Robert Tepper song from the soundtrack of ROCKY iv(more GLAM!!!).For the lucky five to win the USB bonus edition,you can please yourselves with a Metallica cover.”Creeping Death” to be precise.

All in all,it’s not as heavy as The Poison,though Matt Tuck boasted a lot about this being heavier,thrashier and louder.I don’t see Kerrang(who have been very partial towards BFMV in the recent past) giving this album 5K’s.I don’t either,but I can see this album doing miracles among mainstream music acts.

Download:Scream Aim Fire,Deliver Us From Evil,Hearts Burst Into Fire.

For fans of:Atreyu,Trivium.

You get guitars and you get GUITARS.The DIME~Explosion Razorback is a GUITAR.Good ol’ Karu was kind enough to let me have a go at his one and only,already “sold”,Explosion Razorback.

Set neck joint,joining the Mahogany neck and body+Dimebucker Bridge Pickup=infinite resonance.

No problems about that,sustain is an understatement.You can go on stage,strike that brutal power-chord and stare at the crowd with wide open eyes as if something was very wrong and nod your head.By the time the other guitarist comes with their guitar tuned,you’ll be still nodding to the echo of the power chord you struck a minute ago.The 22 fret rosewood finger board is a feast on the eye.Shred,lick,riff….do whatever you want,with a fingerboard like this,playing can’t be anything but smooth.Licensed double-locking Floyd Rose Tremolo,Dimebucker Bridge pickups(as mentioned) are nothing but an invitation to crank up 10 on your amp.

Attitude and Impression?Don’t ask.Seeing is believing,explosion graphics,the legendary DEAN headstock,12th fret Razor inlay,they all shout “Heavy Metal”.I mean,it was designed by “the man” so what more do you want?Oh!You don’t know “the man”?If you don’t know Dimebag Darrell,you don’t know metal.

If you still doubt this is “THE” Guitar,well listen to what Total Guitar,the magazine had to say;“This is the greatest metal guitar of all time”.

You heard it all loud and clear;”the greatest guitar”.

\m/