The marks scale is as follows:
You mean people might pay for this crap?!
If there was no other music on the planet, I might listen to this
Turn that down! It might annoy grandpa!
Turn that up! It might annoy grandpa!
Does this thing go up to eleven!? WOW!

All these images courtesy of Duncan Hamilton (dbu1@cableol.co.uk). Get in touch with him if you want some great graphics work done!

Album: Host
Artist: Paradise Lost
Label: EMI
Description: Sample-heavy metal
Available: June 7th

OK, now this is different. It ain't bad, but it's different. Dig out those copies of Icon and Lost Paradise and remember what PL used to be like. The new stuff's a total different direction. With One Second the band took a more mellow approach to their music. Host continues down that path, but adds a heavier use of samples into the mix.
Like I said, it's not bad - just very, very unusual. Opener So Much Is Lost (the first single from the album) is slow, but catchy (unusual for what used to be a death metal band!) and almost balladic. Nothing Sacred starts with some distorted guitar sounds mixed with strings. In All Honesty seems based on a drum machine. And so it goes.
I have to say that much as I like Paradise Lost, this album was too big a change of direction for me to get into very quickly. It's worth the effort, though, but still won't rank up there with Shades of God. A band with plenty of life left in them and no apprehension over trying something different. It just seems they're getting slower in their old age.
Pick Of The Tracks: So Much Is Lost, Permanent Solution, Made The Same

Rating:

Album: Consider This...
Artist: Kick
Label: Beast Records/Pinnacle
Description: Light Rock
Available: May 31st

A self-produced demo album from a south London band, released with the blessing of Maiden's Steve Harris on his Beast Records label. Not bad, eh? The album's been out in Japan since January and has had a good reception. Deservedly so, too. They're a very up-tempo group with some neat little numbers and a good variety of material.
The album opens with the excellent Up Close & Personal, a rousing tune with a great singalong chorus. Definite Top Of The Pops material. If Terrorvision can hit the top ten with Tequila then Kick should make it with a track this good.
It's no false promise, all gone in the first track either. Children of the Sun brings early Skid Row to mind. In fact, this in one of the great things about the band. Their songs are all original, but you feel really comfortable listening to them like you've heard them all before. It's famliar territory, but it means that the music hooks you that bit quicker than you'd expect.
Power ballad Blue is an absolute classic and Whispers in the Dark is ideal snogging material. Kick aren't quite there, but for a first album this is as good as it gets. They certainly have the makings of a very successful band. Best of luck to them - check the album out and see if they deserve your support.
Pick Of The Tracks: Up Close & Personal, Blue, Let's Make Love Tonight, Another Crazy Summer Night

Rating:

Album: Giving The Game Away
Artist: Thunder
Label: Eagle
Description: Light Rock
Available: Now

This album marks the tenth anniversary of Thunder's first release. Hey, the band will even thank you for buying the album in track 12. And buy it you should.
Thunder's fun style shows through on all the tracks. For instance, Giving The Game Away starts off sounding more than a little like something The Beatles would have dreamed up. Ballad number one comes in the form of You'll Still Need A Friend and typically it's as good as anything else sloppy that Thunder have ever put to vinyl. Plastic. Whatever.
Roll of the Dice follows that like a kick in the teeth. Loud and brash, it's a real toe-tapper. Another trip to Balladland with Numb which in turn is followed by the classic cover of Play That Funky Music. Attack of the Killer Ballads again with 'Til It Shines, then the rock attack resumes for two more tracks (Time To Get Tough and It's Another Day) until finishing on a softer note with It Could Be Tonight.
Good variety, good songs, highly recommended.
Pick Of The Tracks: Tracks 1-11

Rating:

Album: Pedigree Chump
Artist: [spunge]
Label: Moon Ska Europe
Description: Ska
Available: Now

Something different, this one. Remember Madness? Hell, of course you do (if you're British). [spunge] are along a similar line with right bouncy music, silly lyrics and a sound attitude. Even the inlay's great with some wonderful cartoon artwork on it. The band certainly seem to have the right attitude - they're out to have fun and it shows. Tracks like Kicking Pigeons and Angel With a Pint Glass are obviously very British, as is the sound. Kicking Pigeons makes use of a horn section as well.
I did liken the band to Madness, but they do have a harder edge to them, possibly verging into the hardcore end of things. Value-wise the album comes with a bonus CD containing 5 live tracks. Two of them are on the album proper, but the first, 500 Miles is a cover of the Proclaimers' "classic". It's brilliant, too!
For a modern-day trip down Nostalgia Road, it's well worth picking up.
Pick Of The Tracks: Kiss My Face, Idols, Make Me Happy

Rating:

Album: Sell Out
Artist: pist.on
Label: Music For Nations
Description: Grindy Metal
Available: Soon

Finally the full album pushed by the promo I reviewed about a month back. The two tracks on there, Rest and 31 Degrees, were fairly laid back. So what of the other 9?
The whole album has a feel that goes from track 1 through to track 11. All the songs are fairly ploddy and grinding, with a good steady beat and decent lyrics. As such, it does get a little samey which is a shame as the stuff's not that bad. I haven't heard much pist.on before, so I'm not sure if this is up to scratch or typical of them. By all standards, it's good. Just a little dull, is all.

Pick Of The Tracks: Rest, Someone, C
Rating:

Album: Radiator
Artist: Radiator
Label: Chrysalis
Description: Hard-edged rock with samples
Available: April 5th 1999

This debut album from a 3-year-old outfit will be preceeded by a single on March 15th. They're an English bunch and their two earlier singles have been moderately successful. Building their sound originally from the dance scene (they used to run 2-day events in a warehouse in London), it's developed into quite a genre-crossing experience. Tracks range from the belting (Amnesia) to the decidely mellow (Untitled Love Song).
The whole thing's well put together and it's an impressive debut. Maybe not to everyone's taste but worth a dabble. There's certainly a broad range of sounds on here but it's generally upbeat and fun.
Pick Of The Tracks: I Am, Generator

Rating:

Album: Strangeland soundtrack
Artist: Various
Label: Warner
Description: Great mix.
Available: Out Now

Soundtrack albums have been kind to us in recent years. The likes of Shocker, Demon Knight and Last Action Hero have resulted in some great music. Strangeland's no exception. It's not suprising when you see who produces and stars in it - Mr Twisted Sister, Dee Snider.
One look at the list of bands on the back of the box should be enough to convince you that this is one worth buying... assuming you don't have all the tracks already. I'm not familiar (albumwise) with all the artists on there, but the offerings from Megadeth, Anthrax and Backyard Babies are all one recent albums.
Still, 19 tracks and every one a doozy. Nice variety, but no ballads. Songs range from the pure heavy (Sevendust's Breathe) to stereotypical "end of movie" material (Twisted Sister's Heroes Are Hard To Find). Dee's even run off a solo track of his own to kick the whole shebang off with.
If the film's as good as this then it'll be well worth the trek out to see it. In the meantime, wrap your eyeballs round these acts who feature on the shiny disc: Megadeth, Pantera, Anthrax, Coal Chamber, Marylin Manson, Soulfly, System Of A Down, Snot, Twisted Sister...
Pick Of The Tracks: Breathe (Sevendust), Fuck Off (not a cover of the old Lawnmower Deth classic - by Kid Rock), Where You Come From (Pantera), A Secret Place (Megadeth)

Rating:

Album: Same Difference
Artist: Entombed
Label: Music For Nations
Description: Scandanavian Death Thrash. Not.
Available: November 16th

So what's changed with Entombed since the last classic release, The Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak The Truth? Well, first of all, they've learnt how to shorten an album title. Secondly, they've changed musical style quite a bit. This album's a bit grittier than their previous stuff, but as a result seems to lose some of it's kick.
It's good to hear a band going off on a different tack. You don't want them getting stale after all. But Same Difference just doesn't have the instal appeal that their last two releases had. It's ploddier, on the whole, and the tracks take longer to get going.
After a few listens it does grow, and it's not a bad album on the whole but the sound is just totally different to what we've come to expect. In some ways, they sounds like Sodom without the harsh edge. In all fairness, a lot of this is down to the production and a note on the sleeve of my copy says "This is not the finished version" but all the same it's not as good as I was hoping. Track 4, What You Need, is the first really good one on the album and it's too long to wait for an instant hook.
Like one of my old school reports: Could do better.
Pick Of The Tracks: What You Need, Addiction King, 20/20 Vision

Rating:

Album: Still Crazy
Artist: Strange Fruit
Label: London
Description: 70's Rock Soundtrack
Available: Out Now

Now this is a turnup for the books. I actually bought this one. In fact, it's the first full-price album I've bought in about 4 years. I saw the film then bought the album the next day. Brilliant stuff.
OK, quickly put, Strange Fruit are a fictional band who were huge in the 70s. Sort of Mott The Hoople meets Black Sabbath. They split up on stage at an open air festival and they decide to reform for a 20th anniversary show. As well as songs from the band, the album also features a couple of solo efforts and some instrumental themes. The mix is excellent, from ballads to classic rock numbers.
The writers have done such a good job that to a larger extent you just think you've heard these songs before. It's convincing as a "greatest hits" album rather than as a soundtrack.
If you enjoyed the music in the film, or are a fan of music from that era, then I can't recommend the album highly enough. Great stuff.
Pick Of The Tracks: The Flame Still Burns, All Over The World, Scream Freedom

Rating:

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