Showing posts with label Rex Brown. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Rex Brown. Show all posts

CD Review: Metal Allegiance – Metal Allegiance

CD Review: Metal Allegiance – Metal Allegiance
Nuclear Blast Entertainment
All Access Rating: B+

Metal Allegiance - S/T 2015
The army of mercenary artists assembled for Mark Menghi's Metal Allegiance has a history of violent aggression and sonic brutality. Their mission: Go forth and shred, and do whatever's necessary to keep metal alive and vital.

Assembled by Mark Menghi, the all-star project – established in 2011 – unites a veritable "Who's Who" of metal and hard-rock notables in a rather large and seemingly unwieldy musical collective with a revolving cast, although the core of Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Alex Skolnick (Testament) and David Ellefson (Megadeth) is unchangeable. And Menghi is the ringleader, making a foursome that created the original material for this record.

Up to this point, Metal Allegiance's activities have been limited to live performances on boat cruises and special events like NAMM, but in September, their self-titled debut LP – released by Nuclear Blast Entertainment – dropped from the sky like a burning asteroid of furious, full-on thrash (meaner than hell on "Can't Kill The Devil" and the anthemic "Pledge of Allegiance) that satisfies and more traditional metal swimming against periodic melodic tides. In "Destination: Nowhere" and the rumbling, action-packed "Scars," with its scissoring, serrated guitars and the contrasting vocal textures of Cristina Scabbia and Mark Osegueda, Metal Allegiance toggles between barely harnessed rage and bittersweet ruminations, but the searing opener "Gift Of Pain" is the gift that really keeps on giving. A relentless, slamming juggernaut of grinding guitars, "Gift Of Pain" sets a blistering pace, its momentum only temporarily stalled by a swinging bridge that almost cracks under the weight of its ponderously heavy riffs, as Lamb Of God's Randy Blythe growls with malevolent intent.

Weighed down by deep melancholy and trudging along, "Dying Song" is just the opposite, a thick, gothic slice of metallic Southern-rock frosted by Philip Anselmo's hoary utterances and struggling to hold onto its bruised and battered soul. There are complex progressive instrumental parts that hijack "Wait Until Tomorrow" and the multi-part, technically brilliant "Triangulum," which suffers from self-indulgence and boring, masturbatory jamming. On the whole, however, there is a surprising cohesiveness to Metal Allegiance that allows for the occasional head-scratching departure, such as the beautifully rendered Spanish guitar interlude that breaks up "Let Darkness Fall" – otherwise a fine specimen of solid, lively hooks and propulsive energy. While the standard version of Metal Allegiance keeps to nine tracks, the digipak edition adds a faithful and thrilling version of Dio's "We Rock," as singers Osegueda, Chris Jericho, Alissa White-Gluz, Chuck Billy, Steve "Zetro" Souza and Tim "Ripper" Owens pay homage to a metal icon with a variety of interesting singing styles.

The project's list of contributors includes a slew of metal heavyweights, its vast Rolodex including ex-Pantera bassist Rex Brown, Exodus and Slayer guitarist Gary Holt and Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante, just to name a few. Still, what keeps this alliance together, whether on record or onstage, is a common vision and a healthy respect for metal's glorious past and its promising future.
– Peter Lindblad

Decades of Music Memorabilia Takes Center Stage in the 2015 Rock Gods and Metal Monsters Auction

This year’s Rock Gods & Metal Monsters Auction is going to be one of “the” auction events of the year and if you haven’t signed up for your All Access Auction Pass you will definitely want to do so after reading about the artists and type of items featured in the auction.

We have an impressive group of notable hard rock and heavy metal artists who have cleaned out their storage lockers and personally selected each item that will be featured in the auction. 
 
The headliners include; Alex Skolnick (Testament), Paul Bostaph (Slayer), Dave Mustaine and David Ellefson (Megadeth), Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater), Stephen Pearcy (Ratt), Scott Ian, Charlie Benante and Frank Bello (Antrax), Rex Brown (Pantera) and Lita Ford (Runaways).

Additionally, the auction will showcase memorabilia featuring AC/DC, Aerosmith, Black Sabbath, The Cult, Cheap Trick, Def Leppard, Guns N' Roses, Judas Priest, Kiss, Linkin Park, Marilyn Manson, Metallica, Motley Crue, Motorhead / Hawkwind, Ozzy, Poison, Slipknot, Van Halen Rob Zombie and loads more!

Whether you collect guitars, amps, pedals, gear, drums, record awards, stage worn attire, picks & sticks, signed memorabilia or vintage crew and tour t-shirts & jackets, tickets & passes, itineraries, photos, posters, promotional items – there is something for everyone’s taste and budget.

Of course we have a few special highlights including; an amazing collection of artist owned and used guitars, drum kits and gear, impressive array of rare and unique artist signed items, an absolute stunning collection of original RIAA Record Awards and a vast selection of tour memorabilia including itineraries, passes and apparel.

The auction will be live from June 20th – 28th with a special VIP Preview that starts June 13th. If you are not registered for your All Access Auction Pass, rock on over and sign up today – it takes just a minute and there is no fee to sign up. Link: All Access Registration

Follow Backstage Auctions on Twitter and Facebook for auction highlights before, during and after the event. 

#RGMM2015

BACKSTAGE AUCTIONS - A boutique online auction house specializing in authentic rock memorabilia and exclusively represents legendary musicians, entertainment professionals and entities. Every auction event is unique, reflecting the artist's legacy and chronicles their legendary career.





Rex Brown Opens His Personal Pantera Vault for Historic Auction

Auction Featuring Items from the Pantera Years

Preview the Auction Now! 

Backstage Auctions is proud to present one of the most anticipated auction events of the year featuring  the private collection of Rex Brown. As one of the driving forces behind 'Groove Metal', Rex Brown is globally known as the bassist for Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera.

The auction will feature an impressive array of personal items from his Pantera years and is a rare opportunity for fans and collectors around the world to own a piece of exclusive Pantera memorabilia. Die-hard Pantera fans will not want to miss this event!  “Never before has there been any Pantera memorabilia offered in a single auction by one of the original members. This is going to be a hugely exciting event and we are honored to host the auction for Rex," comments Backstage Auctions founder Jacques van Gool.

Rex has amassed a remarkable collection of gear and equipment during his nearly 20 years in
"Brownie"
Pantera.  Since he returned home from Pantera’s final tour in 2001, most of it has been sitting in a storage facility.  Now - after fourteen years in storage - Rex believes there is a better purpose for all his stuff.  “I took a look at all of my old Pantera gear.  I realized I had a ton of bass guitars, amps, cabinets, road cases and other great stuff just sitting in storage collecting dust.  I felt they really should be in the hands of the fans who would love to own a piece of Pantera history. I have all my Pantera love and memories in my heart and soul.  Of course, I am keeping the things that are important to me, but there are a lot of treasured items here and it’s time for the next generation to care for them".

The guitar collection will take your breath away. From his first bass guitar, a 1981 Ibanez, RS-824 Roadster Bass, that he used during Pantera’s early club days, to the bass guitars that he recorded all the iconic albums with such classics as Cowboys From Hell thru Reinventing the Steel and toured the world countless times over, it's all there.

The auction will also feature his 1996 Stuart Spector Design LTD NS-5 #170 bass or otherwise known as “Brownie”, which was one of his most frequently used and photographed bass guitars.

Together with really cool stuff such stage worn shirts, picks, bass strings, posters, guitar straps, promo items, record awards, amps, cabinets and road cases, this will be a once-in-a-lifetime auction.

You can preview the entire auction catalog now and the bidding will start April 18 and will run through April 26, 2015.

For more information and to register for a VIP All Access Pass for the auction event visit: The Rex Brown Collection 


REX BROWN - As one of the original members and  bassist for Grammy-nominated, platinum-selling band Pantera,  Rex co-wrote classics such as 'Cowboys From Hell', 'Walk', '5 Minutes Alone', 'Respect' and 'I'm Broken'. The band's 1994 'Far Beyond Driven' album was the first 'extreme metal' album to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Top 200. After the band's break-up in 2003, Rex continued his career in bands such as Down and currently Kill Devil Hill. He is a member of the Metal Allegiance and recently authored a book titled 'Official Truth 101 Proof'.

https://killdevilhillmusic.com/


CD Review: Red Dragon Cartel – Red Dragon Cartel

CD Review: Red Dragon Cartel – Red Dragon Cartel
Frontiers Records
Red Dragon Cartel - S/T 2014
All Access Rating: B+

The reports from the front lines were troubling. Red DragonCartel, it seemed, had stumbled out of the gate. By most accounts, their first show together at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood was a train wreck, with the blame laid squarely on a singer who probably needed more rehearsal time and more rest leading up to the show and less booze the night of it.

This was supposed to be Jake E. Lee’s glorious return to rock ‘n’ roll after a 20-year absence, and all anybody could talk about was how off tune newcomer D. J. Smith was. Some good came out it, though, as Smith and the rest of the band made a renewed commitment to tightening up their performances, and since then, there haven’t been many complaints. Red Dragon Cartel seems to have righted the ship.

From the sound of their searing self-titled debut record, they knew all along what direction they wanted to go. Updating the ripping and tearing guitar work he did with Ozzy Osbourne and Badlands with slick, hurricane-force modern production, Lee has built up a potent arsenal of riffs and torrid solos in his time away that David Koresh would admire, as Red Dragon Cartel roars through 10 songs of slightly darkened, expansive post-grunge hard rock that eats dynamite for breakfast. The slashing riffs of “Deceiver,” an adrenaline rush of an opener that kicks down the door with all the subtlety of a SWAT team, give fair notice that Lee is back with a vengeance, and the snarling "Wasted" finds Lee's mushrooming guitar barking like angry dobermans who've just caught a whiff of fear, while the heavy, swaggering "Shout It Out" has an infectious, swirling nu-metal vortex of a chorus.

"Slave" is a buzzing hive of frenzied riffing, while the sludgy "War Machine" dances and stomps around a witches' cauldron stirred by Tony Iommi and the original Black Sabbath. Filter's kaleidoscopic "Take a Picture" comes to mind when the rougher cinematic ballad "Fall From the Sky" washes in, carrying with it a flood of melody, but it's the soulful "Redeem Me" that brings Red Dragon Cartel back to a more organic and earthy sense of self.

Guests like Robin Zander of Cheap Trick and ex-Iron Maiden singer Paul Di'Anno, plus former Pantera and current Kill Devil Hill bassist Rex Brown, are there for window dressing, and they only flesh out a diverse set of tracks that allows Lee's scorching fretwork to burn. Making up for lost time, Lee serves up an array of tricks that won't break new ground, but they will thrill anybody with an appreciation for six-string agility and melodic power. And in Smith, Lee has unearthed a forceful vocalist whose singing is brawny and masculine.

Chock full of big, roundhouse hooks, Red Dragon Cartel is on rare occasions clunky and derivative, but on it Lee, lured out of retirement by sod-busting bassist Ronnie Mancuso, unloads in such gripping fashion two decades of artistic frustration on anybody who will listen. Still, few may notice those slight blemishes, and everyone should lend Red Dragon Cartel an ear. http://www.frontiers.it/
– Peter Lindblad