Mojo’s Pick of the Week – Iron Maiden “The Book of Souls”

Posted on September 4, 2015 by Mojo

This week marks the return of the mighty Iron Maiden with their 16th studio album, “Book of Souls”, which recalls their classic form with a refreshingly retro sound. In fact their first studio album in five years is a DOUBLE album, and includes an 18 minute opus called “Empire of the Clouds”.

Check out the first video release from the new album, “Speed of Light” which, in keeping with the throwback sound of the album, brings us mascot Eddie in a 16-bit Donkey Kong style video game as he goes for the girl!

This epic album drops at roughly the same time as the revelation that Bruce Dickinson, lead singer and pilot of the band’s jet Ed Force One, is battling tongue cancer. Wishing Bruce all the best and hope to see them on tour soon. Up the Irons!

Iron Maiden on the web:

http://ironmaiden.com/
https://twitter.com/ironmaiden
https://instagram.com/ironmaiden/

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Mojo’s Pick of the Week – Ghost

Posted on August 24, 2015 by Mojo

Ghost BC They’ve dropped the B.C. from their name and dropped their newest album MELIORA, and I’ve dropped my side-glancing skepticism of the band Ghost. There’s no denying the power of the heavy, groovy metallic riffs that Papa Emeritus III and the Nameless Ghouls have laid out in this latest album. Let us take a moment to reflect on the majesty of this track “From the Pinnacle to the Pit”. I can’t stop listening to it.

Ghost gets away from the Cookie Monster growls of much modern metal and goes in the complete opposite direction with a 90s Britpop feel. They can in fact be oversoft in the vocal department, which is part of what took me so long to come around. But even though they can sound like the Pet Shop Boys snuck onstage to take over for Vivian Cambpell-era Dio, they’ve unrepentantly carved out their niche in the metal world. From their meticulous costumes and consistent message to the tight, clean, and majestic production of this album, these guys know exactly what they’re doing. They can be heavy as Testament one minute and as soft as Simon and Garfunkel the next. Whatever it is, they’ve made a believer out of me.

Meliora means ‘better’ and Ghost have done nothing but get better over time. I’ve been hearing for years what a great live show they put on and I don’t think I’ll miss them next time around!

Stream Ghost’s latest album MELIORA in its entirety on YouTube:

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Mojo’s Pick of the Week – Alter Bridge

Posted on February 23, 2014 by Mojo

Alter Bridge is quickly on its way to being a household name on the strength of their fourth album, “Fortress”, released late last year. And yet they are not well known enough that I had to find them filed under “Creed” at SF’s Amoeba Records. Orlando, Florida’s Alter Bridge is guitar phenom Michael Tremonti, bassist Brian Marshall and drummer Scott Phillips from Creed, with the addition of powerhouse singing talent Myles Kennedy, known from his work with Slash. I saw Kennedy fronting Slash’s Snakepit and simply nailing Axl Rose’s parts during the G&R songs, and came away extremely impressed. I’m more impressed now.

“Fortress” is heavy rock with a prog metal soul, calling to mind at times Dream Theater, Queensryche, and Fates Warning, but I swear the band I think of most when listening to it is cult favorite Psychotic Waltz. This masterpiece of an album hasn’t left my car since I bought it. Complex and powerful, yet melodic and haunting, it is definitely one of the best albums of 2013. Alter Bridge just played Australia’s Soundwave festival with the likes of Alice in Chains, Rob Zombie, Filter and Clutch. Catch them if you can and definitely pick up “Fortress“. You won’t be disappointed!