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About Dangerdog Reviews

Created in the fall of 2006 by Craig Hartranft, Dangerdog Music Reviews offers reviews of melodic heavy metal and hard rock, progressive metal, progressive rock, AOL and their various sub-genres. The key word is 'melodic.' If you're interested in music with hardcore, death, or black metal vocals or tones, you've come to the wrong place. Mostly I review what I know best: melodic hard rock and heavy metal in the following categories.

    • Album Oriented Rock(AOR)
    • Melodic Alternative Rock/Metal
    • Melodic Hard Rock
    • Melodic Glam/Sleaze Rock/Metal
    • Melodic Heavy Metal
    • Melodic Power Metal
    • Melodic Progressive Rock/Metal
    • Melodic Symphonic Metal
I will not review:
  • Singles (no matter the genre)
  • Blues Rock (as of 01/08/2016)
  • Instrumental Music (as of 01/08/2015)
  • Nu/Rap Metal
  • Dark, Post, or Occult Rock or Metal
  • Black/Death/Extreme Metal
  • Rap, Hip Hop, Country, World, Dance, Trance, Electronica, Ambient, Industrial, or Pop
  • Artists or bands with non-English lyrics/vocals
  • Anything that has 'core' in its description like metalcore
  • Anything with death/dirty/black/hardcore vocals

Submit your album for review.

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Dangerdog Rating System

It's back! The verbose explanation of the Dangerdog Music Reviews 5 point rating system.

5.0 Excellent

A most worthy addition to its genre and the band's catalogue. For established or new bands, this means that they have done at least two things: 1) maintained or exceeded the consistency and professionalism of their previous work in terms of musicianship and craftsmanship and/or 2) have also brought something new and original to the table. It is a dynamic and thrilling album that you would 1) play over and over and, 2) recommend to your friends without hesitation.

4.5 Great

All the elements you would expect in the music genre are found on the album. In addition, there are also strong clues of originality or ground-breaking creativity beyond their previous efforts. This is the most common rating for established bands that have shown consistency and perseverance over the course of their careers.

4.0 Very Good

All the things you would expect of the band in its genre; there is little or no groundbreaking advances, yet they prove once again their proficiency. For new acts: they get it; they understand what they want to do, how to do it, and do it well.

3.5 Above Average

Good effort in its genre; strong hints of creativity and originality; musicianship and craftsmanship shows great promise; worth keeping your eye on and even possibly adding to your album collection, especially if you are a fan of the band or genre.

3.0 Average

Good but seldom breaks new ground in its genre; musicianship and/or song craftsmanship hindered in some significant way; yet with time and effort could advance advance in the genre. But ultimately, after one listen your response would be: 'there is nothing new under the sun.'

2.5 Below Average

Derivative: lacks originality and is probably being done better by another band or artist. (Or often it's simply a genre that doesn't appeal to me.) Don't waste your money unless you are a diehard fan of the artist or band.

2.0 Questionable

One wonders where their inspiration comes from. They get their chosen genre right, but creativity is confused with blatant imitation.

1.5 You've Been Warned

Who left this band/artist into the studio? The studio owner couldn't cash their check fast enough. Listen with caution.

1.0 Totally Sucks Ass (aka The Chad Frey Award)

Simply horrid: devoid of any reasonable talent, inspiration, or creativity. Spare your ears and mind from this musical chaos.

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Craig Hartranft, Founder & Publisher

Craig Hartranft Craig is the husband of Debi and father of Ethan Hartranft, married to Deb Martin Hartranft; they live in Gettysburg. He founded Dangerdog Music Reviews in November 2006, but his love for melodic hard rock and metal dates back the late 60's and early 70's, and also includes classic Motown, Philadelphia blue-eyed soul and, surprisingly, classical music. Craig loves and reviews melodic heavy metal, melodic hard rock, progressive rock and metal and much more. In the picture with Craig: Lily, the little black Dangerdog.

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New & Notable
Read the Lionville: Supernatural Album Review

eviewing my archives, I was pleased to find that I have had the privilege to review every Lionville since their self-titled debut in 2011. Formed by Stefano Lionetti, a songwriter, singer and guitarist based in ... [ Read More ]

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Patrons & Supporters

Labels and Music Promotion Agencies who submit to Dangerdog Music Reviews:

  • 7Hard Records (Germany)
  • AFM Records (Germany)
  • Avenue of Allies Records (Germany)
  • Candlelight Records(USA)
  • Century Media (Germany/USA)
  • Connecting Music PR (Germany)
  • Dustin Hardman PR (USA)
  • Earsplit PR (USA)
  • Escape Music (England)
  • Freeman, Jon Promotions (USA)
  • Frontiers (Italy)
  • Glass Onion PR (USA)
  • GMR Music Group (Germany)
  • Inferno Records (France)
  • InsideOut Music (Germany)
  • Lion Music (Finland)
  • Limited Access Records (USA)
  • Liligren Records (Sweden)
  • Lori Hehr PR (USA)
  • Metal Revelation PR (Netherlands)
  • Napalm Records (Austria)
  • Nightmare Records (USA)
  • Nuclear Blast ( Germany/USA)
  • Perris Records (USA)
  • Pervade/Epiphoria Productions (Europe)
  • Pitch Black Records (Cyprus)
  • ProgRock Records (USA)
  • Pure Steel Records (Germany)
  • Pure Rock Records (Germany)
  • Rainmaker Promotions (USA)
  • Restricted Release PR (USA)
  • Retroactive Records (USA)
  • Ripple Music (USA)
  • Rock n Growl PR (EU)
  • Scarlet Records (Italy)
  • Shadow Kingdom Records (USA)
  • Spider Rock PR (Italy)
  • SPV/Steamhammer (Germany)
  • Sound Pollution Media (Sweden)
  • Street Symphonies (Italy)
  • TSM Promotions (England)
  • Ulterium Records (Sweden)
  • and many more