Articles by: Fred Phillips

Metallica - St. Anger (2003): Metal Meltdowns

Metallica – St. Anger (2003): Metal Meltdowns

With everything working against it, why do I actually like Metallica’s ‘St. Anger’?

Anthrax, Sept. 23, 2016: Shows I'll Never Forget

Anthrax, Sept. 23, 2016: Shows I’ll Never Forget

In recent years, I’ve said some pretty negative things about Anthrax frontman Joey Belladonna. I’d like to use this opportunity to take all of those things back.

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Jackyl – ROWYCO (2016)

Arriving at the end of the party-hearty 1980s was a stroke of bad luck for Jackyl. No matter what, though, Jesse James Dupree has stuck to his guns.

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The Dead Daisies – ‘Make Some Noise’ (2016)

Now featuring one-time Motley Crue frontman John Corabi, the Dead Daisies may have found their best lineup on their third record.

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Metallica, “Hardwired” from Hardwired … to Self Destruct (2016): One Track Mind

I didn’t want to go with a knee-jerk reaction to Metallica’s “Hardwired.” I wanted to give it a chance to grow on me. It hasn’t yet.

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Blackberry Smoke, “Waiting on the Thunder” from Like an Arrow (2016): One Track Mind

Blackberry Smoke’s last album needed a little more grit. If “Waiting for the Thunder” is any indication, maybe we’ll get some of that back.

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Steven Tyler – We’re All Somebody From Somewhere (2016)

I wasn’t going to listen to Steven Tyler’s new country-influenced album, but I’m such an Aerosmith fanboy that I unfortunately just couldn’t resist.

Quiet Riot - QR III (1986): Metal Meltdowns

Quiet Riot – QR III (1986): Metal Meltdowns

Quiet Riot was probably headed for obscurity before ‘QR III’ was released 30 years ago, but this album certainly drove the nail in the coffin.

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Jackson Taylor and the Sinners – ‘Which Way Is Up’ (2016)

Listening to Jackson Taylor’s latest record, one has to wonder if the hell-raising country rocker has reached a crossroads.

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Iced Earth, “Ghost of Freedom” from Horror Show (2001): One Track Mind

Metal bands aren’t usually known for patriotic tunes. We’ll explore one of the exceptions on this Memorial Day: Iced Earth.