Articles by: Fred Phillips

Skid Row - United World Rebellion, Chapter One EP (2013)

Skid Row – United World Rebellion, Chapter One EP (2013)

After a very uneven first album with new singer Johnny Solinger and a second album that was full of jokey novelty tunes, I didn’t hold out much hope for the future of Skid Row. Until now. You May Also Like: Skid Row – ‘The Gang’s All Here’ (2022) Why MetalRead More

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Something Else! sneak peek: Black Sabbath, “God is Dead?” from 13 (2013)

Since Black Sabbath began working on a new album with original singer Ozzy Osbourne and producer Rick Rubin, fans have been waiting for a taste of what was coming. You May Also Like: Ian Gillan basically drank his way into Black Sabbath: ‘Did that happen? What happened?’ Why Black Sabbath’sRead More

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The Merciless Book of Metal Lists, by Howie Abrams and Sacha Jenkins (2013): Books

I think there’s something innate in music fans that drives them to want to make lists. And then, of course, to argue about those lists to the death. You don’t have to look any farther than the conversation on some of the Gimme Five entries here You May Also Like:Read More

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One Track Mind: The Axis of Awesome, “Rage of Thrones” from Cry Yourself a River (2012)

OK. I’m a sucker for goofy musical comedy. The goofier the better. A larger than I’d like to admit part of my record collection is taken up by it. I have the full “Weird Al” Yankovic catalog. You May Also Like: Gypsy, “Gypsy Queen, Part 1” (1970): One Track MindRead More

Replacement Metal Vocalists Who Clicked, from Ronnie James Dio to Bruce Dickinson: Gimme Five

Replacement Metal Vocalists Who Clicked, from Ronnie James Dio to Bruce Dickinson: Gimme Five

Here are five times when a replacement singer upped a metal band’s game.

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Bob Wayne on “Til the Wheels Fall Off,” “Blood to Dust” + Others: Gimme Five

Bob Wayne discusses some of our favorite songs from his two Century Media releases, including the first song he ever wrote for the Outlaw Carnies.

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Queensryche vs. Queensryche, “Cold” and “Redemption” (2013)

Round one of Queensryche vs. Queensryche, much to my astonishment, goes to Geoff Tate – but by the very narrowest of margins.

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Bob Wayne, outlaw country artist: Something Else! Interview

Though his music is very much set in the world of traditional country, Bob Wayne is not what you’d call a traditional country musician.

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Suicidal Tendencies – 13 (2013)

Most metal fans are probably looking a little more forward to another album titled 13 later this year from a barely known band called Black Sabbath. Me, too, but I was also quite intrigued by Suicidal Tendencies’ album of the same title. You May Also Like: Anthrax – ‘For AllRead More

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Adrenaline Mob – Coverta (2013)

I kind of chuckled when I saw that Adrenaline Mob had chosen three Ronnie James Dio-related songs for its eight-song covers EP, but now I get it. You May Also Like: Carmine and Vinny Appice – Drum Wars Live! (2014) Ronnie James Dio moved into the spotlight with the dark,Read More