ICE AGE- Liberation (2001)

Back with a great band and a great album. Bet most of you are not aware of this interesting band. Ice Age released two albums and this is their second and last. Let me add best too. Their style reminds a little of early Dream Theater and maybe some Shadow Gallery but they manage to display their own musical identity through songs well structured, intricate, excellent in musicianship and performance. Melody is rooted deep within their sowngwriting and the vocals are excellent. I think Ice Age were among the very few progressive metal bands that could write lengthy songs actually worth listening to. I'm really tired of 10minute nonsense tracks with endless wankery and no melody except for the chorus. Ice Age manage to incorporate instrumental passages into really beautiful songs complimenting both. That's a hard task I might say. Hope they'll come back with more music, hope more people will support great bands like them so I don't have to close every post with the ''sadly they are no more around part''. Go buy this wherever you can find it!

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/301836768/Ice_Age_-_Liberation.rar

LINDA PERHACS- Parallelograms (1970)

It was time I uploaded something way back from the past... Join me in a travel not only through time (back to 1970) but also through the limits of this world... Linda Perhacs is a singer/songwriter gifted with a magical voice. She just released this one album and after that quit music. The music, the vocal arrangements, the sentiments in her voice... it's all out of this earth... I must warn you, there's no electric guitar here, just psychedelic folk music driven by sheer talent. If you liked Carol of Harvest it's likely you will fall in love with Linda Perhacs too. They don't share the same sound but they do share the breathtaking effect!

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/294435959/Linda_Perhacs-_Parallelograms__1970_.rar

LIONSHEART- Lionsheart (1992)

Not to be be confused with the band Lionheart that released ''Hot tonight'' in 1984. This is the band led by former Grim Reaper shouter Steve Grimmett. The vocals of Grimmett and the virtuoso styled guitars are the highlights of this album. Most of the songs are hard rock, and only a couple cross the border towards melodic heavy metal. The song that became some kind of a classic is the superb Portrait, a metal epic reminiscent of Malmsteen's best work. If you've read ''The portrait of Dorian Grey'' by Oscar Wilde then you know what this song is about. Truly a masterpiece. On the hard rock side of things you get tracks like Can't believe and So cold, great examples of Grimmett's admiration towards David Coverdale. Lionsheart released three more albums, sadly of declining quality. 1994's ''Pride in fact'' is not a bad choice but this one is an absolute MUST!

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/290046642/Lionsheart.rar

GARGOYLE- Gargoyle (1988)

Another gem from 1988. This is a truly unique album. The quality of the production is far from good, yet the beauty of the songs shines through. Tim Lachman's voice (also heard in another great band, Glacier) and the catchy, melodic vocal lines he sings are the highlight. The guitars relentlessly produce powerful neoclassical and power metal riffs. If only they were a bit louder in the mix... Sadly the band didn't release any other albums but this one is enough to cause admiration for their remarkable talents.

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/287587864/Gargoyle-_Gargoyle__1988_.rar

HITTMAN- Hittman (1988)

This is one of the best examples of US power metal perfection. Just the voice of Dirk Kennedy is enough to make this album a classic. Add the great songs, the powerfull riffs and the screaming solos and you get a one way ticket to heavy metal heaven. All songs are great, still I have to mention that this is the album one of the best b-sides ever. Caught in the crossfire is the definition of POWER, while Behind the lines and Test of time border on progressive metal genious. It's really a pitty the band broke up after a dissapointing follow up (Vivas machina-1993).

Edit: Somehow tracks 6 and 7 got mixed, 6 is Caught in the crossfire and 7 is Secret agent man

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/287096134/Hittman-_Hittman__1988_.rar

TANGIER- Stranded (1991)

This is the third album (second official) of the band and unfortunately the last. Released in 1991 it had few chances of being successful... Yet it is a great example of bluesy melodic hard rock/AOR with focus on songwriting and singing. Mike Le Compt has one of the most beautiful voices in melodic hard rock. Such a shame I haven't heard anything else from him. Similar to the Cinderella singer but quite cleaner, still very warm. Some of the songs may sound a little light but this is meant to give you a good time after all! My personal favorites are Down the line (a mean rocker), Caution to the wind (southern blues melodic rock gem), You're not the loving kind (bluesy hard rock), Since you've been gone (cheesy but great ballad), Stranded (just fantastic AOR!). The later had a nice video clip featuring young Pamela Anderson but it's not on youtube anymore. Someone must do something about it!

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/274766010/Tangier-_Stranded__1991_.rar

FATES WARNING- Perfect symmetry (1989)

If you want to define progressive metal there are a handful of albums that can do that perfectly. ''Perfect symmetry'' will always stand out among them. The change in sound from the previous album ''No exit'' (1988) is vast, drummer Mark Zonder completed what was to become the best line up of Fates Warning and the band managed to surpass even their previous masterpiece ''No Exit''. Superb musicianship, constant rhythm changes, yet focused compositions, melancholy, introversion, thought provoking and unconventional lyrics. A desperate cry about alienation, conventionality, disillusion, individuality, vanity, false expectations and disappointment. This is an album that will grab you from the first time yet it will reveal more and more with every new spin.

I want to share some of the lyrics here...

Today is within my reach

and tomorrow's so illusive.

But I'm still chasing time

through increasing disillusion

forever living for

the future of an illusion.

(Chasing time)

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/272582682/Fates_Warning-_Perfect_Symmetry__1989_.rar

MOLLY HATCHET- Silent reign of heroes (1998)

You wouldn't expect a southern rock band to release a masterpiece in 1998, would you? Well I'm a little bit heretic... I think some southern bands released their best stuff in recent years... Lynyrd Skynyrd included! Yes I'm that heretic! Anyway, I didn't like the first Molly Hatchet albums, they were weak in my oppinion, opposed to the epic covers from Frazetta's paintings. This is not the case with ''Silent reign of heroes''. This album is as heavy as southern rock can get, and it's full of great songs too. The same titled track is a monster epic song, with a scottish pipes intro and fantastic lead guitars. Phil McCormack is the southern rock equivalent of UDO, only he can actually sing, haha! His harsh voice sounds great on the powerful songs of this album. The guitars are smoking hot, this is southern rock after all! Listen and believe!

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/259710273/Molly_Hatchet-_Silent_Reign_of_Heroes__1998_.rar

SARACEN- Heroes, saints and fools (1981, 1992 reissue)

Saracen were filed under the NWOBHM movement mainly because of their origin and time of appearance. Everything with guitars in 1981 was supposed to be NWOBHM in one way or another. But what I hear is prog/pomp hard rock. The same titled masterpiece and songs like Horsemen of the apocalypse and Ready to fly are lengthy, with nice atmospheric parts and interesting arrangements. The ''hit'' Rock of ages is the only straight rocking song on the album (just as good as those great NWOBHM anthems: Angelwitch, Rock brigade, And the bands played on etc...). Furthermore tracks 8-14, which are basically no bonus tracks but tracks from the second album ''Change of heart'' (1984) showcase a strong AOR feeling that leaves no room for misunderstandings. Like expected, Saracen handle every different style with the same class. Seabird and A face in the crowd actually exceed any expectations, and personally I tend to believe the second album is even better than the first (though I love the prog elements of the debut). Special note has to be made about Steven Bettney -this guy has a voice like an angel! Anyway, the meaning of this post is to persuade you about the greatness of this band, they are still alive and kicking, the last album they released was ''Vox in Excelso'' in 2006 ( a masterpiece you need to buy!) and hopefully there is more on the way...

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/259605205/Saracen-_Heroes__saints_and_fools__1981-1992_reissue_.rar

BLACKFOOT- Marauder (1981)

ck Another Blackfoot album I love. After touring with AC/DC and Scorpions they released their fifth album ''Marauder''. It was obvious that they were more than just a southern rock band, as they had started incorporating elements of hard rock/early heavy metal. The best exaple of that hybrid is the epic Fire of the dragon. Two great ballads were included, Diary of a workingman and Searchin, both classics you shouldn't miss. It's very funny that albums like ''Marauder'' and ''Siogo'' marked the commercial decline of this great band... Check it out and...

ENJOY!!!

http://rapidshare.com/files/248905443/Blackfoot-_Marauder__1981_.rar