Michael Schenker Ranking the albums

 

Over the past Corona year I have been completing several of my collections of heroes from my youth. For unknown reasons I did not do so for Michael Schenker. This weekend made me realize that I need to look out for several of his missing albums on future metal markets or just the internet. The albums I will have to get are from several of his era's: McAuley Schenker - M.S.G., MSG - Written in the Sand, Temple of Rock - Bridge the Gap, Fest - Revelation. Anyway I still have 13 albums to rank which I do have and played over the past days. So my favorites for these are ranked as follows:

13. Adventures of the Imagination

Somehow for an instrumental album I expected more from the man who gave me the best instrumentals ever written during his early MSG years. Even Resurrection held in Salvation an instrumental topping all on this album. Not questioning quality here, just songs.

12. In the Midst of Beauty

The most disappointing album, especially if you look at the line-up. All those eighties names, could not make the eighties return. The songs lacked class of the old times and I was very sick missing live shows, to help getting them more alive.

11. Gipsy Lady

Acoustic albums can never compete with full band performances . The biggest plus here was that the songs fitted Gary Barden's voice much better. Still acoustic, therefore not for every moment

10. Immortal

For now I kept this album low, as I did not play it enough yet. Some very promising songs on it, but why change to three new singers again?

9. Tales of Rock 'n' Roll

19 songs in 57 minutes sounds like a rush. If this album would have twelve songs and several of them extended and ended properly this might have been higher up. Several ideas are very good and the seven vocalists all add something to the party.

8. Save Yourself

The second McAuley Scheker album had some lesser songs on it. I liked this hair-metal era of the band, but also no touring this time made it not his best. Band pictures on the cover remain hilarious, I mean Schenker in a white social shirt and hair fohned is funny, Flying V in hand or not.

7. Spirit on a Mission

Doogie White's great voice gives this album an extra. Strong band and good songs, make this one that comes closer to the golden years. Good live shows during those days too, even if too much Scorpions played.

6. Resurrection

Surprisingly strong album, based upon the very good songs. I would not expect all vocalists to sing that well. Live it seemed they were having such a good time on stage and ego's were put aside. Salvation an instrumental of the top class as well.

5. Perfect Timing

The first album with McAuley. The style changed, but not as much as the hair did. Great songs make up this album and McAuley can sing. Following fashion of the day maybe, but with a great result.

4. Built to Destroy

This album received way too much critics at the time of release. For me only just below the top three. It did help that my first ever MSG live show came after this album. Some of the songs should be in a best of set any day.

Now before going to the top three I have to state that it must have been the hardest choice so far. I struggled ranking top three albums for Fates Warning, Savatage, Whitesnake, Dream Theater or Angel's top two. In this case, they really all three are equally good and have their own charm. I therefore can only rank based upon re-playing this weekend.

3. Michael Schenker Group

This LP is among the best debut albums ever. Only classics. I put it on three since it holds most songs we heard over and over during live shows, so hardly any o yeah that one experience. Into the Arena and Lost Horizons are among his best songs ever.

2. Assault Attack

Same classic status, different vocalist. I only did not put this on one, as I consider Gary Barden the voice of the golden years. Graham Bonnett maybe delivering the best performance of his career, helped by eight killer songs (well seven one is instrumental) Everythig is right about this album.

1. MSG

The second LP, was the first one I got and is also classic from start to finish. For some reason songs like Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, On and On and But I Want More, hardly appear in live sets nowadays. This album has the best line-up ever for MSG with Glen, Raymond, Powell, Barden and Schenker. Somehow I feel it does not get the same credit as my number two and three do, so I put it on one. Schenker could even afford to not put an instrumental classic on this one.

Well that was a great ride along 40 years of MSG in it's several formats. Anyone new to the band should look for the box The Chrysalis Years. It holds my top four, plus two live albums and some unreleased live at the Manchester Apollo songs. Schenker rulez indeed.

Angel ranking the albums

 

So after one weekend of many old albums it's time to rank them in order of favorites. Replaying them all did not really change my opinion from what I expected in advance, but sometimes I will explain a position. Going through these albums does make you wonder, why Angel never became as big in record sales as bands like Cheap Trick, Styx, REO Speedwagon or even Queen and the likes. Not to mention Kiss a band they often were compaerd with being the white version of black dressed Kiss. I never had anything with Kiss and even Angel in poppy mood outshines Kiss for me any day. The fact the Gregg Giuffria left the band is a pity as I personally believe that both Giuffria and thereafter House of Lords released albums, that were better classy follow ups with some Angel influences still blended in. I do not include any of those in the ranking, but kept the solo albums I mentioned this weekend in the ranking. So counting down 9 albums.

9. Sinful

If I would have been a fan in the seventies the disappointment probably would have been even bigger. Now just their most poppy album to me, with less memorable songs.

8. Punky Meadows - Fallen Angel

This solo album was not bad, but missed the vocals and was a bit softer than I hoped for. A long album too, which does have its effect on attention spans.

7. Dimino - Old Habits Die Hard

The voice of Angel going solo. This was one hell of a positive surprise to me. Ranking it number three in my end of year list 2015 and only number seven here shows how big Angel are to me. Great album.

6. In the Beginning

Musically this album deserves maybe to up some places, but I put it here as it is far from the traditioal Angel sound. If I would rank the Led Zeppelin albums it would end up higher. Still a very good album to play every now and then and I never understood the critics it received.

5. Risen

A worthy comeback indeed, but missing the nostalgy factor my top four has. Even if discovering them in the eighties, playing all their albums Over and Over (pun) did add to my appreciation levels years later. Very diverse respecting all sides of Angel

4. On Earth As It Is In Heaven

Album number three where they decided to leave the proggy path. Still this one had several great songs on it like Can You Feel It and On The Rocks. What if they would have decided at the time to go more proggy and metal instead? probably the next Rush, but we shall never know

3. White Hot

Their fourth album continuing the route of their pre-decessor. This one to me has a few more must hear Angel classics on it like Don't Leave Me Lonely, Got Love If You Want It and Hold Me, Squeeze Me. All songs much more rocking than their titles would make you expect.

2. Helluva Band

This one is maybe as good as my number one. Friday a few people mentioned to play Angel again. I am sure they meant the first two albums. It was the best era of Angel really, even if not sales-wise. Pressure Point shows how heavy they could go these early days and The Fortune should have been an all time classic.

1. Angel

The self titled debut album holds eight songs all having their charm. The Tower is their band defining song, but Long Time, Broken Dreams or Sunday Morning are hidden gems as well. How is it possible that this brilliant debut did not catapult them straight to super stardom? One of the wonders in pop music for always.

So I end with a small clip form The Fortune, which I found on Youtube. It is shot at the Golden Age Rock festival which I attended.

If it shows anything it is, that Angel are live still a band to travel long distance for, even if the sound here is messy. Angel the band that makes you think what could and should have been.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tQ08BtblvM

Finally it became clear to me that Angel must be close to the weather Gods. This weekend for the first time in two years The Netherlands turned all white covered in snow. Call it coincidence if you like. Luckily just a bit and all left already, so time for a jog on a Sunday Morning now.

Rush ranking the albums

 

So after playing all 19 albums I now have the impossible task of ranking them in order of favorites. Originally I thought I like them in order of phases, but that is not absolutely true, as your mood can even determine which album suits better. All albums have their highs and some would probably change position if I do this again (which I won't). So the most important factor is what does the album to me. Some of them I know better than others, so that already impacts placing. But let me just start not with the worst, but least good to me.

19. Vapor Trials

The album that had no songs that stuck with me really. All decent and well, but a bit uneventful for my taste.

18. Roll the Bones

Some good songs and this tour among my top five favorite shows ever. Yet as a total it can't beat the ones above it.

17. Clockwork Angels

A decent farewell. I saw rankings having this on one even. Well to me it never really spoke. Some good songs, but a storyline that doesn't exite either. Maybe I hoped for more this being a concept album.

16. Test For Echo

More good songs, just overall not their best still. If they kept the level of the first three songs going, probably a few positions higher on my list.

15. Presto

The last LP I bought of them and some very good songs. Overall we ar egetting in stronger album territory, still also some songs that being not there would have made it an overall stronger LP.

14, Grace Under Pressure

I bought this one on LP years after release, but didn't play it all that often. Actually holding some strong songs and the synth years were not weak indeed.

13. Permanent Waves

This is much lower than many people rank the album. Two reasons, I don't have a history wit this album really and second look at the ones released before and after it, this is a dip in form

12. Signals

An album opening with Subdivisions really deserves a top ten place. I guess Chemistry and Digital Man prevented that. Losing It was the biggest re-discovery for me over the weekend, what a beautiful song that is.

11. Snakes & Arrows

For me by far their best album of this century. Reason is simple the songs speak much more to me here. Many great ones and an album that can stand proud next to any other Rush album.

10. Rush

This one is hardest to rank as it is a different animal still before Neil Peart joined. A great seventies hardrocking album as such which holds some classic songs they played live until the end.

9. Fly By Night

Rush turning towards their progmetal years. A bit rough around the edges several gems you must know on this one. The long song (By-Tor...) still not fully settled I thought

8. Counterparts

This is an extremely well balanced hard rocking Rush of the later years. I was even surprised how I liked the full album again from Animate all the way down to Everyday Glory.

7. A Farewell to Kings

So I did not rank their four progmetal albums 1-4. This is mainly my least favorite of the four as Side A is magic and Side B is not. Placed a bit low really for an album holding Xanadu and Closer to the Heart.

6. Power Windows

This one I liked so much better in retrospective than I imagined. Here all 8 songs hit the bull and this synth style works very well for them. Definitely one I shall go back to more often.

5. Moving Pictures

Overall their most favorite album to many and with a reason. A band like Rush delivering hits here. Top songs from start to almost finish as I think Vital Signs is slightly below par.

4. Caress of Steel

One of the wonders in music, why is this album so often slagged by fans and critics? All songs leave their own mark and The Fountain of Lamneth is the first full side song. Apart from that it is one of the first progmetal albums ever released, so bonus points for that.

3. Hold Your Fire

Usually appearing in the ranks 15-19 it is one of my absolute favorites. It is all about the timing, the history, the first live show. And then it is helped by the songs as well. Definitely my go back to album if I go for more poppy Rush. And yes that one guitar tone in The Mission still gives me the shivers.

2. Hemispheres

If an album holds your second best long song, your second best instrumental (after YYZ) and best short song (The Trees) a number two is a logical place. One of the go back to albums. One of their all time classics you simply must have heard.

1. 2112

The title track of this album must have been the song getting me hooked on prog epics. Until the day of today I can hear it over and over. When side B holds five good songs to make it a complete LP it is my number one indeed. Actually before starting thisi weekend, I knew this much 2112 would be hard to kick of the number one spot and no album managed to do so indeed.

Fates Warning ranking the albums

 

Well that was one great trip down memory lane and at times rediscovering the beauty of some albums. So now I shall rank them from 13 to 1. This ranking is the one I made today and might even next week be different. For sure if I would have come up with a different order if not replaying all 13 over the past days. This ranking has been done before and I can say that the seaoftranquility YouTube channel gave me the idea first. Pleased to say that while I am pretty sure Pete Pardo is as much or even more a Fates Warning fan as I am, we still came up with pretty different choices. If you want to check out what he thought here is the link

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yEHlG9_yHac&t=1088s

Enough introduction, here is the list. Please feel free to criticize or confirm my list remembering all albums are very good to start with.

13. Night on Bröcken

This is a very strong heavy metal album from 1984. If you compare it with the levels Fates Warning reached hereafter this is a band still finding their way. Damnation being the best window to the future.

12. Darkness in a Different Light

Even if holding one of the best heavy opening riffs ever released It has the least standout tracks of the later years. Maybe the 9 year pause was too long.

11. Inside Out

Being in style close to Fates Warning at its best I think for me it had some trouble matching its three pre-decessors. Yet an album with Monument, Pale Fire, Face the Fear and Outside Looking In so the level is high.

10. The Spectre Within

One metal side and one future Fates Warning side with The Apparition, Kylie Eleison and Epitaph made me realize I will revisit this album more in the future. Pity production was not at the same level of the songs yet.

9. A Pleasant Shade of Gray

This must be the hardest album to rank. There definitely are days that it is my favorite Fates Warning album, but then again it also is not for every day or 20 minutes only. A wonderful album as such which opened the door for many progrock fans. Maybe I should have seen it played live in full, but that was 10.000 km away for me.

8. Disconnected

This is another one I have been moving up and down my list. On forehand I would give it top three at least. What I realized is that it is one of the albums I played most over the years. I loved all the shows I saw with the Disconnected part 1/One opener to get you straight into the mood. Can be at any other place tomorrow really.

7. Long Day Good Night

Too close to call. Really impossible to judge how it stands compared with the full discography after one week. Playing safe putting it in the middle therefore.

6. Awaken the Guardian

This album should have had the production that became the norm hereafter and I don't know where it could have arrived on my list. Eight great Heavy Metal songs which build a progpower genre. The most popular cult album, bridging between old school metal and progmetal fans.

5. FWX

This album I would have rated lower in advance. Playing it again I totally love the variation and fact it is build around shorter songs still over a wide range of styles. Another Perfect Day is the song I would have given most chances to reach high in hitparades. But then again who plays Fates Warning on the radio?

4. Perfect Symmetry

Another album of eight killers. First time I saw them live when they finally made it to Europe. This one also could be on another position but never higher than 1 or lower than 6. This album definitely set the progmetal style which I love so much.

3. Theories of Flight

My favorite of the current century. Again eight tracks all hitting the bull fo rme. Either long and epic, shorter and faster or instrumental and dark. For anyone in doubt this album brought them straight back to the top of progmetal Champions League. How many bands can say that their twelfth album is among their very best work?

2. No Exit

This is the heavier Rush album where all seemed to have arrived at the right place at the right time. Heavier Rush means side A full of short songs and Side B one 21:25 minute song. The Ivory Gate of Dreams sets a standard for long songs, which is not met by any other band thereafter. On Side A I love the aggression of the heavy metal days is still very present. Just the perfect mix.

1. Paralllels

Parallels is for me the Holy Grail in progmetal. For some maybe too commercial or accesible, I loved all eight songs as from the first time I heard them. If than the album also holds in The Eleventh Hour my favorite Fates Warning song it can only be my number one. The album works both with headphones on reading along with the lyrics as well as on the background while doing something else. Music as it was meant to be for me.

Uriah Heep Ranking the Albums

 Uriah Heep Weekend: Ranking the 70s albums

That was one great ride from June 1970 till September 1978. Twelve studio albums plus one double live. Where last week's ranking of Queensryche was very easy due to the wide range of quality, here it is one tough list to make. Probably later this afternoon, I would rank them differently, but hey that is a good sign. So twelve great albums to list, here comes my order.

12. High and Mighty
The last Byron album had  a drop in qulaity between very solid Side one and average side two. Still some fine tunes to enjoy, but not a classic.

11. Fallen Angel 
The last Lawton album, also lacking some songs that stand out here. No mighty organs or keyboards present.

10. Wonderworld
This is a very strong album following a brilliant opening title track. From now the ranking becomes impossible really. Maybe overall not their best yet, but definitely worth checking out.

9. Innocent Victim
The second Lawton album which was filled with cool songs and including their fastest banger in Free 'n' Easy. Since not with Byron classify as underrated.

8. ...Very 'Eavy...'Very 'Umble
Yes a crime with opening track Gypsy on it. But I did not take the year of release into account, the whole album was not of the same level as Gypsy (while still very strong etc.)

7. The Magician's Birthday
One hell of an album in a hell of a cover. Still the title track does not work everyday for me. Further some classic songs on this one with Sweet Lorraine and Rain.  No real fillers either.

6. Return to Fantasy
Number six based upon their awesome opening title track. Return to Fantasy is the Heep song to sing along to while driving, doing the dishes or sit in a chair. The rest of the album can't follow that peak, but that song hey.

5. Salisbury
Same as the Magician the epic title track is not for every moment. But the remainder of the album with Bird of Prey, High Priestess and Time To Live is so strong. With Lady in Black their biggest singalong live song on the album too.

4. Firefly
The biggest surprise to me of the albums I knew less well. Eight killer songs make this an enjoyable album from start to finish. Probably the surprise that after Byron leaving the band, they were able to make an album this strong helped in my appreciation.

3 Look At Yourself
Is it possible to put an album that holds July Morning not on the number one spot? Apparently so even if the other six songs are also all ace. Definitely a must own album for anyone into hardrock blended with some prog. Main source for the Live album as well.

2. Sweet Freedom
I did keep the top two for the LP's I own. Sweet Freedom is with it's release after the live album, maybe not as appreciated as it should be. Stealin' is on it man. Also an album with great variation between the eight songs who individually all shine. 

1. Demons and Wizards
Their biggest album and well deserved so. When you don't even know if opening song The Wizard is the best, or closing double Paradise/The Spell. you think of Rainbow Demon another candidate. This is such a ride and Easy Livin' probably  their best known song is on it as well. As I wrote already on Friday, if anyone needs to be introduced to Uriah Heep, they should hear this album.

So now I can start reading the book Uriah Heep in the 1970s by Steve Pilkington. I'm sure that it will make me pick up all albums again, to check out what the text was about. If there ever was a price for the most underrated band in music Uriah Heep would be a candidate for that title. They are going strong for 51 years now and next to their own huge discography, they were important for the birth of both melodic hard rock and progmetal. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame doesn't have them in it, but that's me just kidding since that instutute is the worst joke ever. Rolling Stone magazine is behind that. Same magazine that started the review of Heep's debut album with the untasty "if this band makes it, I'm going to have to commit suicide". So how do you admit the greatness of Uriah Heep after that?

Queensryche Ranking the Albums

Queensryche is the weirdest of rankings I did so far or ever shall do. I can think of no other band where I love their best albums so much, while almost disliking their worst albums at a same level. Actually I can group the sixteen CD's in four categories: 1-5 Must have classic albums 6-10 Highly recommended 11-15 Avoid if possible 16 Run, fast and far away from this album For the ranking my choices fell within each group therefore and at times are interchangeable. Any album jumping from one group to another on the other hand is almost impossible. so here is my list

16: Dedicated to Chaos I never heard or read anyone saying or writng something positive about this album. I don't have it and it is to me by far their worst. What annoys is that noone was brave enough to take the blame.

15. Q2K No remarkable songs or performances here. The band lost their ways and seemed confused.

14. American Soldier A theme that does nothing for me. Spoken words and a duet with his daughter make this an album that only works for militairs I guess.

13. Hear in the Now Frontier The first time Queensryche disappointed. Hearing the later albums today some were even worse, but what they were thinking really noone shall know. Poor album

12. Operation: Mindcrime II A pointless attempt to write a sequel to their highest acclaimed album. I only put it on twelve as some melodies return and Dio sings a few lines. Failed attempt

11. Frequency Unknown Not sure if we can categorize it as a Queensryche album. If doing so it has some better songs than all the albums mentioned so far. Not a solid album still, but some good performances.

10. Condition Hüman This is the biggest gap on the ranking. 10 is so much better than number 11. We now arrive at the albums you should have if you collect metal. A solid album with good songs. Just a bit below the others.

9. Tribe A surprise to me as I played it for the first time this weekend and the second CD I don't have. Actually several good songs and the band more in form after two disappointments in a row. I will pick it up one day when finding it at a good price.

8. The Verdict Their last album is a good piece of metal indeed. Strong songs, good band and Queensryche as good as we can expect nowadays.

7. Empire Am I too critical on this one? I look at chances of picking it up for playing again and that is why number seven. Anyone not knowing the band should get it and probably ranks it higher. To me heard too often to excite.

6. Queensryche The first album with Todd LaTorre was such a nice surprise. Back to their eighties style of metal with a vocalist who can safe them through old hits live as well. Several hits on this one for me.

5. Queensryche EP If this was a full album contender for my number one. Now only four songs. What an introduction to the band this was. Tip the CD version has the Japan live show as bonus, at a bargain price.

4. Promised Land I always liked this album better than Empire and this weekend learned I should play it more often. It shows the dark side of Queensryche not shying away from ballads, but of the good kind. Beautiful.

3. Rage For Order Upon Release a bit scary with the single and outfits a wonderful album in the end. Filled with songs that nowadays return to their live set a worthy number three as one and two are even better.

2. Operation: Mindcrime Yes this could have been my number one, but I heard it way more times. The metal concept album of all time is one of those everyone with a mild interest in metal music should own. All killer no filler and that for a concept piece..

1. The Warning What an album. I remember now... how I was blown away the first times I played the LP. This album has everything I need on a classic metal album from fast and heavy to slow and moody. When you struggle finding your favorite track it always is a good sign. My favorite Queensryche album and I can hear anytime day or night. Music at it's most beautiful (how the hell could this band release DtC 27 years later?)

Pentesilea Road - The Spectre Beneath - Heyoka's Mirror - Witherfall

Pentesilea Road - Pentesilea Road

Pentesilea Road: The Band, The Album, The Song. That is lots of Pentesilea Road to love which becomes true over 70 minutes. Originally I was pointed towards the album when a Fates Warning FB page mentioned participation of both Ray Alder and Mark Zonder on this album. So I checked the album out on Bandcamp, ordered it after first listen and ever since the album keeps on growing on me. 70 minutes is with me for many bands too long, not for Pentesilea Road. Starting with the split, eleven songs of which four are instrumental and a twelfth bonus track is a repeat of one song with Ray Alder on vocals now. The four instrumentals are fundamental to making this album a succes. All four proper songs in the five-six minute range like all other songs and pretty different between themselves. From metal, via bluesy to jazzy it's all there while remaining heavy. Then the songs with vocals are mostly carried by Lorenzo Nocerino. Not that he can make us forget Ray Alder and Michelle Guaitoli, but his participations are as strong. Overall we have a progmetal album of the accessible side, which keeps on giving the more you play it. While staying in Italy Stranded reminded me slightly of Kingcrow, while Genius Loci brought memories of Time Machine to my mind. Defintely an album anyone into progmetal build around songs over instrumental show-off should hear. Finally the thank you note with the album was enigmatically signed Voorburg. If the band's mastermind Vito is living there (10km away) we should share a beer at Musicon or de Boerderij anyday soon when live music returns.

The Spectre Beneath - The New Identity of Sidney Stone

A UK progmetal band with a female vocalist whose voice I like. That must be the first comment as here the music is heavy and the voice stays far from opera. Actually it is hard to compare the voice of L. Lockser with anyone, but maybe the younger sister of Madder Mortem's Agnete is fair. Not the same power and Joplin links, but definitely as standing out on her own. But what is best is the music itself written by mainman Pete Worrall, which is thrashier than most progmetal bands. The first trio of songs blasts over us until we can catch some breath during Have You Waited For The World To Change. The second half of the album is a concept piece named the title of the album in six songs. A criminal burried alive apparently. I thought the overall sound of this band refreshing and very own, so again a recommendation for checking out.

Heyoka's Mirror - The Uninvited King

With a title like that my interest is awoken, as I would not let our king enter if he appears at my door. 

Heyoka's Mirror has one problem to me and that is the bandname. I read a review of this album and when willing to check out the album I needed to refind the review in order to correctly spell the name in google. When doing so a similar route as Pentesilea Road was followed, listen on bandcamp and ordered. The music at first sounded like a heavier Haken. Than tunes of Pervy Perkin came to mind and in the end it goes so many places that trying to describe all becomes a futile exercise. So let me resume if you like dramatic bombastic and heavy progmetal that is not afraid to go weird and very fast in the vocals at times, you can not afford to miss these Canadians. Write down the bandname though as you will forget it first four times (or is that my old age?)

Witherfall - Curse of Autumn

With Curse of Autumn Witherfall now have settled themselves for good in the Champions League of Heavy Metal with light progressive traces. Their debut Nocturnes and Requiem (2017) and follow up A Prelude to Sorrow (2018) both made it to high positions on my end of year ranking. With their EP Vintage I finally saw them live, but that was acoustic only (still brilliant). And now a tour with Evergrey is scheduled for Autumn, we can only keep on hoping (against better knowledge?) But how about the album? Well they did it again. The surprise of the debut album is no longer there, but another album filled with strong songs is presented to us here. In .. And They All Blew Away we even get a progmetal monster of 15 minutes with drums taking care of by Marco Minnemann no huge surprise maybe. Anyone not knowing this band yet, should check out all their albms really.