Articles by: Fred Phillips

Fred Phillips' Mid-Year Best Of 2013 (Country and Southern Rock): Shooter Jennings, Sturgill Simpson

Fred Phillips’ Mid-Year Best Of 2013 (Country and Southern Rock): Shooter Jennings, Sturgill Simpson

I’m pretty picky about my country and Southern rock listening, and to be honest, I don’t explore it as thoroughly as hard rock and metal. You May Also Like: Shooter Jennings – ‘Shooter’ (2018) How Black Country Communion’s Debut Brought Back ’70s-Style Hard Rock

Fred Phillips' Mid-Year Best Of 2013 (Hard Rock and Metal): Tom Keifer, Black Sabbath, Skid Row

Fred Phillips’ Mid-Year Best Of 2013 (Hard Rock and Metal): Tom Keifer, Black Sabbath, Skid Row

It’s been a really solid year for hard rock and metal so far. At six months, I’m often adding mediocre albums that I know won’t make the final list to get to 10. This year, I actually had to make a tough call or two. You May Also Like: WhyRead More

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Amon Amarth – ‘Deceiver of the Gods’ (2013)

To not like Amon Amarth is to not like heavy metal? I wish I’d written that, because I wholeheartedly concur.

Queensryche – Queensryche (2013)

Queensryche – Queensryche (2013)

Round Two of the Queensryche wars arrives on June 25, 2013 with the eponymous new release from the Todd La Torre-fronted version. As expected, this lineup dips back into the history of the band You May Also Like: Why Queensryche’s ‘Operation: Mindcrime’ is Still One of the Best Concept AlbumsRead More

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One Track Mind: Serpent and Seraph, “Tears of Niviane” from Under Darkened Skies (2013)

I try my best not to judge an album by its cover or a band by its name. But every now and then one of those things catches my attention. You May Also Like: Archon Angel – ‘Fallen’ (2020) Durbin, “The Prince of Metal” from ‘The Beast Awakens’ (2020): OneRead More

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Megadeth – Super Collider (2013)

Even though I had no real anticipation or excitement for this record, I felt some sort of obligation to listen to it. I’ve been a Megadeth fan since I first heard the bass line for “Peace Sells” way back when You May Also Like: Annihilator – ‘Ballistic, Sadistic’ (2020) OzzyRead More

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Sturgill Simpson – High Top Mountain (2013)

Sturgill Simpson’s brand of country is undeniably old-fashioned, dripping with honky-tonk spirit, but don’t expect him to try to cash in on it by singing about what an outlaw he is. That’s made clear on the album opener You May Also Like: Jackson Taylor and the Sinners – ‘Which WayRead More

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Fifth on the Floor – Ashes and Angels (2013)

Fifth on the Floor’s 2010 release Dark and Bloody Ground stands as one of the absolute best Southern rock albums of this generation. You May Also Like: Pink Floyd Engineer Alan Parsons Had the Perfect ‘Wizard of Oz’ Quip

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Alice in Chains – The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here (2013)

I’ve been reading fantastic things about The Devil Put Dinosaurs Here, the follow-up to the new lineup of Alice in Chains’ very good Black Gives Way to Blue. But I’ve got to say that I’m just not feeling it. You May Also Like: The Reality of Alice Cooper’s Brutal Planet’Read More

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Something Else! sneak peek: Jon Oliva, “Father of Time” from Raise the Curtain (2013)

Jon Oliva promised that his upcoming solo album, which will also feature the last unused music written by his brother and Savatage co-founder Criss Oliva, would be something completely different You May Also Like: How Savatage’s ‘Streets: A Rock Opera’ Provided a Life-Changing Moment