Benedictum Is Going on Tour!

Benedictum is not Glam, but I really, really like them a lot. They are very metal with a female singer and honestly have a lot of Glam connections (see below). I'm so glad they are touring so more people can learn about their great sound. I really dig their album Dominion. It's out on Frontiers. Here's a release about the tour:

Benedictum & DesDemon team up for Path of the Valkyries tour to promote their recent studio releases.

Benedictum reign from Arizona, fronted by the diabolical mistress “V” Veronica Freeman.  The band is known more in European markets and will finally showcase their talent in the U.S. with their current release “Dominion” via Frontiers Records.  Previous releases include “Seasons of Tragedy” and “Uncreation”. 

DesDemon hail from New York, fronted by new vixen Chelsea Knaack. Finally released their debut “Through the Gates” via Radtone Music Japan and will soon be available in all retail and on-line markets.  DesDemon have been described as a new force in female fronted symphonic metal!!!! 

See Benedictum and DesDemon on their Path of the Valkyries in the following cities. 

November 10^th - The Haven – Orlando/Altamonte Springs , FL
November 11^th - The Pathfinder Metalfest 3 - Marietta, GA

November 12^th - Volume 11 - Raleigh, NC
November 17^th - Metal Thursday @ Ralf's Diner - Worcester, MA (with Joe Stump)

November 18^th - Dublin Pub - New Hyde Park, NY (with HolyHell)
November 19^th - Flight of the Valkyries Festival - Sonar - Baltimore, Maryland

Benedictum recently selected as the pick of the week on VH1 Classics “That Metal Show. “Dominion” is an exciting musical episode building upon their great foundation by adding  Grammy Award winning producer Ryan Greene (Megadeth, F5, NOFX) and are firing on all cylinders. From the onslaught of the opening track Dominion to the epic Epsilon and the heartfelt acoustic track Sanctuary, this album has it all.  Adding to the already explosive sound of “Dominion” are guest appearances by Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Dio, Foreigner), Craig Goldy (Rough Cutt, Dio, Giuffria) and Rudy Sarzo (Ozzy Osbourne, Quite Riot, Whitesnake).

DesDemon “Through the Gates” transcends you through dark majestic symphonic metal passages with supreme musicianship.  “Through the Gates” has an impressive list of guests musicians from Tim “Ripper” Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex- Iced Earth, Yngwie Malmsteen, Beyond Fear, Charred Walls of the Damned, Hell Yeah!), Amanda Somerville (Trillium, Avantasia, Somerville / Kiske, HDK, Epica), Sander Gommans (Trillium, After Forever, HDK) & Joe Stump (Holyhell, world renowned guitar virtuoso).

DesDemon and Benedictum individually have shared the stage with the likes of many international artists like Doro, Primal Fear, Tyr, Korpiklaani, Rotting Christ, Epicurean, Mantic Ritual, Paul DiAnno, Icarus Witch, and have graced the stage of several festivals throughout Europe. 

The Hitler Parody Hits LA Guns

No words are necessary. This video says it all and is hilarious.

Flame - Remember Them?

Thanks to Metalboy! for introducing me to Flame, an underground band with a great sound. Their debut is called Blaze and it was released around 1989. Check them out. If you like what you hear, you can track down Blaze from Z Records.

Dilana Joins LA Guns

Remember when I recently posted that Jizzy Pearl was out of (Tracii's) LA Guns? Well, now the band has a new singer... and it is Dilana Robichaux. In case you don't know, Dilana was the runner-up on the reality show Rock Star: Supernova.

I think this might be a ballsy move on Tracii's part because having a female singer will seriously set the band apart from the other touring version. Will the songs sound the same? No, of course not. But I wish the band luck. I guess my only question is this: why not just create a new band name, write some new songs and do LA Guns stuff live, too? Discuss.

Here's Dilana and Tracii performing together:

Johnny Andriani, 'Tripping on Love' - Album Review and More

Johnny Andriani is a singer and songwriter. He was signed back in the day and he's written for famous folks. One of his friends and collaborators, Robert Ferraro (a bona fide rocker) contacted me about a million years ago to feature Johnny. I don't know why it took me so long because the music is great. The thing about Johnny and his most recent album Tripping on Love is that it's mellow. At first I was worried Glam fans might not dig it, but really, I'm reminded of that laid-back feel Enuff Z'Nuff was known for and therefore, I think you would dig this music.

In addition to the Enuff Z'Nuff parallels, the opening tracks of Tripping on Love - especially the title track - reminds me of the Beatles. Johnny has that special rasp to his voice and the songs are so approachable... you know, you get sort of sucked in. Overall, there's a 70s throwback vibe. That could come from the instrumentation or something else, but I definitely don't think Tripping On Love sounds like a rock album recorded in 2010. And I mean that in a complimentary way.

"Supernatural Love" has a different sort of feel in that it is more up-tempo, but the love theme remains. Now there's the drawback to Tripping on Love: if you've just been through a break-up or something, this album might really annoy you, because it's all love, all the time here. And of course that's the point, but still. The lovesick need not apply!

The album features tracks from Johnny's days in The Dwellers, too (remember them?!), specifically I like "Neptune June." Of course, the Dwellers were best known for their song "Rocket Ride" but that's another post for another day.

Tripping on Love is available via iTunes and CD Baby.

Check out The Dwellers, 'Rocket Ride' and see if you can find our friend Robert. Hint: he's on drums.

Ok, Ok. Let's say you got down this far and you're thinking "But I want 80s Glam!" Well, have no fear my lovelies. Johnny Andriani and Robert Ferraro were in a little band called Sassy Lassy back in the 80s. Have a lookie look: