• New Music Reviews
• |
• Archives
• |
• News
• |
• Submissions
• |
• About
• |
• 
• |
• 

October 2024

• Daytona: Garder la Flamme
• Fate: Reconnect 'N Ignite
• Frost*: Life In The Wires
• Aries Descendant: From The Ashes Of Deceit
• Fans Of The Dark: Video
• Radioactive: Reset
• House Of Lords: Full Tilt Overdrive
• Cleanbreak: We Are The Fire

September 2024

• Sinner's Blood: Dark Horizons
• Serious Black: Rise Of Akhenaton
• Eclipse: Megalomanium II
• SteelCity: Reverence
• Hydra: ReHydrated
• Heartwind: III
• Gabrielle De Val and the Dragonlords: Tiger
• Find Me: Nightbound
• The Nail: The Nail
• Timeless Fairytale: A Story To Tell
• Stryper: When We Were Kings
• Phil Mogg: Moggs Motel
• Pure Reason Revolution: Coming Up To Consciousness
• Jordan Rudess: Permission To Fly

August 2024

• Siege Perilous: Creation's Call EP
• Paralydium: Universe Calls
• Mike Tramp: Songs Of White Lion Vol. II
• Bite The Bullet: Looking For Paradise
• All For Metal: Gods Of Metal (Year Of The Dragon)
• Hammerfall: Avenge The Fallen
• Jim Peterik & World Stage: Roots & Shoots Vol. 2

July 2024

• Ironflame: Kingdom Torn Asunder
• Spektra: Hypnotized
• (Michael) Palace: Reckless Heart
• Mr. Big: Ten
• Dark Mile: Dark Mile

June 2024

• Kaipa: Sommargryningsljus
• Sunbomb: Light Up The Sky
• Seven Spires: A Fortress Called Home
• Atlantic: Another World
• Xeneris: Eternal Rising
• New Horizon: Conquerors
• Issa: Another World

[ More Music Reviews ]

Ross the Boss: Hailstorm

Melodic Power/Prog Metal

4.75/5.0

AFM Records
www.myspace.com/officialrtb
www.afm-records.de
By Craig Hartranft,  10.18.2010

Flying solo under his most famous trademark name Ross the Boss (nee Friedman) releases his sophomore effort Hailstorm. For more current history, which has changed little in two years, you can read my review of 2008's New Metal Leader.

Essentially, Hailstorm continues from where the previous disc left off. Continuing commentaries across the web have been suggesting that both the former and present Boss albums are what more recent Manowar works should or could have been like. (Remembering, of course, that Kings of Metal (1988) was probably the last great Manowar album, in my humble opinion.) Now that that can of worms is opened, we'll leave it alone. Interlopers and other curmudgeons can leave comments below.

So regardless, Hailstorm is classic epic and melodic heavy power metal driven by Ross' fret pyrotechnics. The album is as good as its predecssor except for one single flaw, the very last song Empire's Anthem. No matter how many times I've listened to it, I still can't get my head around it. It's epic, nearly Maiden-like, in its sonic quality. However, it's quite confounding, and I can't say whether I like it or not. Ambivalence can be a bitch.

Nevertheless, the rest of Hailstorm is classic Ross the Boss melodic power metal. Traditional heavy metal can be found on Kingdom Arise or Deadman's Curve; more groove laden (like Priest) on Burn Alive and Shining Path (top pick); heavier and plodding, almost Sabbath like on Crom; or more both heavy and epic as on Behold the Kingdom. Ross the Boss and company are in great form.

But then there's that last song (and it's growing on me especially the vocal arrangements and Boss's guitar work). Otherwise, for those true believers in 'keeping it true' in heavy metal, then Ross the Boss' sophomore work Hailstorm will have them both banging their heads and doing hand stands. Very Recommended.

Note: All Amazon advertising in this review first benefits the artist, then Craig Hartranft also receives a residual. Click, and thanks for your support.

For those true believers in 'keeping it true' in heavy metal, then Ross the Boss' sophomore work Hailstorm will have them both banging their heads and doing hand stands.

Alphabetical Index

By far, Sweden's Eclipse is one of my favorite bands. Always consistent and always entertaining, Eclipse has been delivering their 21st century version of melodic metal rock since songwriter, producer ... [ Read More ]