Rampant – Angel of Dreams (Beyond The Stars)

Rampant – Angel of Dreams (Beyond The Stars)

Original N.W.O.B.H.M. band Rampant, reformed in 2019, is back in action, after a long absence, with a new single called Angel of Dreams (Beyond The Stars).

The line-up that recorded the single consists of: Sam Henstock and Jamie Carter on guitars, Micky Dietz on drums, Jimi King on bass, and enthusiastic original member, "Tee Rets" on lead vocals and keyboards.

I have been given a promo of Rampant's charity single Angel of Dreams (Beyond The Stars). It’s a tribute to little Molly (daughter of Brian Mear), and became the anthem of Mearfest Festival, and it’s a brilliant power ballad. The sound takes you to the spirit of the 70's with some great guitar melodies and awesome vocals. Most of the words on this song are from 2 of Brian Mear's poems

Note that this song includes a children's choir, since children have great significance for this song.

I've also heard pre-release versions of another two tracks from their forthcoming as yet untitled album that is held up in its recording due to Covid-19: “All the World's a Cage” and “Phantom Riders”.

All the World's a Cage, has very catchy guitar melodies, with a very interesting folk sound that will get you hooked.

Phantom Riders is a new song by the new line-up of the band, it mixes more recent influences with heavy doom riffs and a slight progmetal leaning, powerful drumming, and a great solo. Tee Rets voice sound more aggressive on this one, but also on a higher level, he plays a keyboard solo in this song.

Overall the band sounds very cohesive, with an irreproachable rhythmic section formed by Micky Dietz on drums and Jimi King on bass. Great guitar lines by Sam Henstock and Jamie Carter and “Tee Rets” giving his heart and soul to his great vocals.

Also in the spotlight is Gina Northernbat Lewis guesting on harmony vocals on Angel Of Dreams (Beyond The Stars) and as the witches on Phantom Riders.

The revamped Rampant is here to stay spreading the true heavy metal word, fronted by lead singer Tee Rets, a true metal legend.

The band is currently speaking to various labels with a view towards the release of its forthcoming album.

For fans of good traditional Heavy Metal.

Metalmorphose – Odisseia

English version below

Metalmorphose - Odisseia

Edição comemorativa dos 10 anos do Odisseia ao vivo, edição deluxe em vinil, editado pela Metal Soldier Records, um show gravado em 2009 por Fernando Kholl e Rogério Furtado.

O Lp conta com as músicas Maldição, Ela Tem Sempre uma Desculpa, Rebeldia, Complexo Urbano, Harpya, no lado A e Correntes, A Esperança Nunca Morre, Minha Droga é o Metal, Cavaleiro Negro, no lado B

Algumas músicas desse show foram deixadas de fora porque na gravação original os vocais não foram gravados devido a problemas técnicos, nomeadamente: Luta e Desejo Mortal. Nosso Futuro não foi gravada. Não Quero Ouvir Você ficou de fora devido a falta de espaço no Lp, mas consta na versão digital do álbum.

A gravação é a original sem overdubs adicionais, e mostra a banda em grande forma, num show que trouxe a banda de volta após 25 anos de ausência. O André Delacroix na bateria e o André Bighinzoli no baixo, formam uma secção rítmica irrepreensível, o Tavinho Godoy muito bem na voz, nas guitarras estiveram Celso Suckow e Marcelo Ferreira num grande nível assim como o Mario Sevciuc também guitarrista.

Todas as músicas foram remixadas e remasterizadas, por Gustavo Andriewiski. De referir que esta edição deluxe apresenta um som bastante melhorado em relação à edição original, fruto do trabalho realizado por Gustavo Andriewiski.

Para fãs do bom heavy metal dos anos 80.

Pode encomendar aqui:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/329776943709005/

English version:

Metalmorphose – Odisseia

Live commemorative edition of the 10 years of Odisseia, deluxe vinyl edition, released by Metal Soldier Records, a show recorded in 2009 by Fernando Kholl and Rogério Furtado.

The Lp contains the songs "Maldição", "Ela Tem Sempre uma Desculpa", "Rebeldia", "Complexo Urbano", "Harpya", on the A side and "Correntes", "A Esperança Nunca Morre", "Minha Droga é o Metal", "Cavaleiro Negro", on the B side.

Some songs from this show were left out because in the original recordings the vocals were not recorded due to technical problems, namely: "Luta" and "Desejo Mortal". "Nosso Futuro" was not recorded. "Não Quero Ouvir Você" was left out due to lack of space in the Lp, but it’s included on the digital version of the album.

These are the original recordings with no additional overdubs, and shows the band in great shape, in a show that brought the band back after 25 years of absence. An irreproachable rhythmic section formed by André Delacroix on drums and André Bighinzoli on bass, Tavinho Godoy very well on vocals, Celso Suckow and Marcelo Ferreira were on guitars in a great level as well as Mario Sevciuc also guitarist.

All songs were remixed and remastered, by Gustavo Andriewiski. It should be noted that this deluxe edition has a much improved sound compared to the original edition, as a result of the work done by Gustavo Andriewiski

For fans of good 80's heavy metal.

You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/329776943709005/

Chris Garrel (Dreamcatcher)

Dreamcatcher were formed in 2001, in Paris, France. They recorded two albums so far, "Emerging from the Shadows" in 2012 and "Blood on the Snow" in 2017. We had a chat with lead singer Chris Garrel about this underrated band and more!

Q. - Hello Chris, so what can you tell us about your musical beginnings in Heavy Metal particularly? Who were your principal influences and what lead you to be a singer?

Chris - Olá Paulo! Tudo bom? Muito obrigado por esta entrevista.

I started to listen to what was called Hard Rock, at that time, in 1979 with French band Trust’s first album and AC/DC’s “Highway To Hell”. When I was a teenager this new kind of music was really popular in France. Then in 1980, I started my love affair with Iron Maiden when their first album was released. I bought my first electric guitar and started to play in local bands in 1981. People like Bruce Dickinson, Dee Snider or, later on Axel Rose, where the ones who made me wanting to become a singer and a frontman. I first started to sing in a band in 1988, simply because we needed a singer and none of us could do the job; Classic story :) I was still singing and playing guitar on stage, then. Finally in the early 90’s I focalized exclusively on vocals. 

Q. - Tell us a bit about Dreamcatcher, how did the idea to form the band came up?

Chris - I’ve played in bands for the best part of my adult live, but it’s only in 2001 that I felt it was the right time to draw on past experience and to create Dreamcatcher, a band that really suits my taste in music. From the start my ambition was to create a music which would be a mix between Heavy and Thrash Metal. The name Dreamcatcher was inspired by my interest in Native American Indian culture. 

Q. - Dreamcatcher recorded the first demo tape in 2006, but only release the first album, "Emerging from the Shadows", in 2012, was it hard to find a label?

Chris - The problem was not only to find a label to release this album, but to find the right people to be part of the band and record it. I needed people that I could trust and who shares with me the same vision. I know that you have a great knowledge of the musical scene, so, as you know, it’s the same old story. Musicians come and go in bands. People tastes and mind changes as time passes by. That’s life. It’s sometimes hard to built and keep a stable line up. That’s the main reason why it took so much time between these two releases.

Q. – It’s been a while since the edition of Blood on the Snow, are you happy with what you achieved so far with this record?

Chris - Yes, absolutely. We got some great reviews from the media and the fans love it. I’m so proud of what we have done with this album which is more mature in term of global concept, lyrical and musical content and sound production than the first one.

Q. - What about shows? Did you tour supporting Blood on the Snow?

Chris - Yes, we toured in France as headliners, played in festivals and also supported some great bands from UK: Death Valley Knights, Seven Sisters or Toledo Steel.

Q. - Do you have any favourite Dreamcatcher song to play live?

Chris - The song “Dreamcatcher” is an obvious choice, but I also really enjoy the progressive vibrations of “People Of Darkness” or “The Werewolf”.

Pure Heavy Metal songs like “Fly Away” and “TRUSTN01” are great fun to sing and play live and, of course, the thrashy one “I Will Spit On Your Grave” is one of my favourite.

Q. - What expectations do you have for the future of Dreamcatcher? Are you working on a new album?

Chris - We’re about to re-release “Blood On The Snow” on vinyl, this time,  in the forthcoming months. Meanwhile, we’re working on a new album to be released next year, in 2021, for Dreamcatcher’s twentieth anniversary

Q. - In your opinion, were the 90's hard times for heavy metal bands?

Chris - Each decade brings new bands and new trends, at that time grunge and neo metal were the new sensation. Old bands such as Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Saxon or Black Sabbath were struggling to survive to the situation, but in the other hand some great bands like Angra, HammerFall or Iced Earth were born in the 90’s. So, it wasn’t all bad, finally. :-)

Q. - Hard n’ Heavy music does not pay bills to many people, is It difficult to make this kind of music now-a-days?

Chris - You have to believe in yourself and in your music and hold on to your dreams. If you do it with passion, you will always get some kind of reward in return. To be realistic, most of musicians from the underground scene have daytime job. We are all more concerned about not losing money than earning money from music. :)

Q. - Is Iron Maiden a musical passion to you? How did it start? Do you usually follow them on tour?

Chris - As I told you, my passion for Iron Maiden started in 1980. As many diehard fans, I collect as many of their records as I can, I got Eddie’s tattoos on my shouders, I even sang in the “Heaven Can Wait” choir on stage with them. The full monty! I don’t really follow them on tour, but I went to more than 60 shows on through the years since 1982 in France, Europe and United Kingdom. I had the chance to meet present and past members several times. Dreamcatcher also did gigs with Paul Di’anno and Blaze Bayley. Steve Harris is even the lucky owner of “Emerging From The Shadows” and “Blood On The Snow” albums. Through Dreamcatcher’s career we performed several live covers versions of Iron Maiden's songs: such as “Running Free”, “The Number Of The Beast”, “Powerslave” or “Children Of The Damned”.

Q. - You were the webmaster for the Eddie's Bar web page, how did that happen?

Chris - I used to go on holiday in Algarve every year from 1998 to 2008 because of Eddie’s Bar. I just fell in love with the place really and it soon became a second home for me.  At that time, there were no Eddie's Bar web page so I decided to create one.           

Q. - Did you first meet Manu da Silva in France? Or was it at Eddie's Bar? How did you become friends with him?

Chris - I first met Manu at the bar. I was one of the bar regular and we started to chat in French together. Manu was feeling nostalgic about the time he was living in France, and he liked to tell me stories about that period, that’s how we became friends. We found out by chatting that we went to the same football game that Iron Maiden played in 1984, in Paris, against a team made up of members of French metal bands.

Q. - Can we say that Manu was the "life" of the bar? Was it hard to keep the bar open after his passing?

Chris - Manu was the soul of Eddie’s Bar. After his passing a new team of Englishmen, old friends of Steve Harris (First Iron Maiden’s roadie Jeff Daniels and two first Iron Maiden guitarists  Terry Rance & Dave Sullivan),  tried hard to reopen it, but it was no longer the same and unfortunately it didn’t last long.

Q. - On your visits to Eddie's Bar did you have the opportunity to meet personally members or former members of Iron Maiden? Or even from other bands?

Chris - Yes, I met Jeff, Terry and Dave, and also Steve Harris a couple of times at the bar, between 2006 and 2008. On August 26th 2006, Steve Harris, who was on holiday in Portugal with his family, made an amazing present to the fistful of Iron Maiden’s fans who were at the bar by taking off his short pocket the brand new album “A Matter Of Life And Death” for a unexpected private pre-listening party on the bar sound system speakers, a few days before the official release. I was part of the lucky ones who went at the bar on this summer night.

Q. - Do you know the reasons why Eddie's Bar had to close the doors?

Chris - It was not a profitable business and when the Englishmen tried to take over from Manu, they had trouble with the neighbourhood and Portuguese administration. Steve Harris was spending lesser and lesser time in the villa he own in Santa Bárbara de Nexe, as he was already living in Bahamas. In fact, I think that he just lost interest in Eddie’s Bar.

Q. - Eddie's Bar brings good memories to you? Is there any funny moment that you can share with us?

Chris - One particular night, in 1999, I was with some friends of mine at the bar, dressed in a white away French national team shirt. We had already drank a lot of strong alcoholic beverages when Manu said he had enough for the night and decided to close the bar and get rid of all the other customers. He said he wanted to go to a bar in Faro to have fun.

So Manu jumped on his motorcycle with broken rear lights, wearing no helmet and we followed him in the dark of the night on our rented car. Bear in mind that we were not in our normal state. Then he stopped in front of a live music bar. When we entered the bar full of Portuguese people, a live band was playing an Alanis Morissette’s song cover and as soon as they saw Manu they started to play an AC/DC’s song cover. We quickly understood that, for these guys, he seemed to be like the leader of the local mafia.  Manu knew I was a singer and ask me to go on stage with the band to sing with them a Metallica’s song. Here I was, totally drunk dressed in a French national team shirt, trying to do my best to stand up and sing “Enter Sandman” in front of bemused Portuguese audience.  :D

Q. - Do you know why the Iron Maiden convention in Faro only was organized one time?

Chris - I think, just because Iron Maiden were back to fame and they didn’t need and/or couldn’t organize this kind of event again, but I know Steve Harris played with British Lion for the guys of Motoclube de Faro a few years ago which was a great gesture and tribute to Manu’s memory.

Q. - Do you keep an eye to hard rock and heavy metal music nowadays? Are there some bands that got your attention?

Chris - Yes, there’s still so many amazing bands around recording great albums! I advise you to listen to “Ermite” the last album from French band, Irminsul, which is really good. Two others great albums from the French metal scene are “Sinister Force” from Thrashback and Hürlement’s “La Mort Sera Belle”. Apart from that, I really enjoyed last British Lion’s album “The Burning”, Tygers Of Pan Tang’s “Ritual” and Angel Witch’s “Angel Of Light”.  

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Chris - A big thank you and congratulations for the great job you do with your blog "Phantom Lord", Paulo.

Hopefully your readers will be interested in listen to Dreamcatcher, and will buy our albums and other stuff to support us. Take care. Stay Metal! Up the Irons! 

https://www.facebook.com/Dreamcatcherfrance

https://dreamcatcherfrance.com/

https://dreamcatcherfrance.bandcamp.com/

https://www.youtube.com/user/ChrisDreamcatcher

Photos © Chloé Bazaud


Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!

Austin M. Carrino (Lust)

LUST was a late 70's Californian Melodic Metal Band, from The Hollywood Music Scene, That recently released their compilation Hollywood Roxx 1976-80. We had a chat with main man Austin M. Carrino, to know more about this underrated band.

Q. - Hello Austin, tell us a bit about the origins of Lust, how and when did it all start? How did you get in touch with the other members?

Austin - We started LUST in junior high school with my life long-time friend... Curtis W. Stewart, bassist. We went through different personal through the years. I was introduced to Liam Jason by Vernon Poole from high school... we jammed... I invited Curtis to play bass... Liam brought in Keith Deen (Greene). After a few years... Curtis got married and moved away. I found Richard Sanchez, the bass player in a newspaper ad... we jammed... I brought Liam and Keith back into LUST... This version was together about 5 years.

Q. - Do you remember how the name Lust came up?

Austin - 1973-74, During a break from rehearsing one day, we were all throwing out there possible band names... It was 100% Curtis W. Stewart's name idea from that point on.. When Curtis left the band, he gave it to me. I then registered the band name around 1976-77.

Q. - Who were your major influences at that time?

Austin - Keith Deen's all-time favourite band was The Who, as in Roger Daltrey... He also liked Robert Plant, Ian Gillan, Freddie Mercury and I'm sure others.

Liam Jason was into Queen, Grand Funk Railroad's drummer, Don Brewer and Deep Purple's drummer Ian Paice. And of course, the mighty John Bonham.

Richard Sanchez's influences were Deep Purple, Alice Cooper (and bassist Dennis Dunaway), Ten Years After (and bassist Leo Lyons) and of course, The Beatles.

For myself, I was a total Zeppelin, Jimmy Page fan. But many players influenced me.. Mark Farner, John Fogerty, Ritchie Blackmore, Ted Nugent, Ace Frehley to name a few.

Q. - In the early days, did you start writing your own songs or were you most concentrated on covers?

Austin - I started writing my own original music in junior high school. My 1st Copyright registered in 1974. But we mainly played covers until Keith and I started bringing in originals around 1976.

Q. - Do you have any special memories from the shows you played back then? Is there any funny moment that you can share with us?

Austin - The 1st biggie was playing at Buddy Ebsen's house for his daughter. There was over 1000 people there in and on the outside of their fenced in pool yard… it was like a giant Green House.. We played for 3 to 4 hours with helicopters flying over us. Finished our time, tore down and trucks loaded by time the police showed up... "Where's The Band".

2ndly… Being the headlining band at a outdoor concert in Simi Valley, California with several other bands.. Thus, the CD cover picture and 1 or 2 booklet pictures.

3rdly... Playing the same clubs and circuits with many of the bigger LA bands of the time... Van Halen, Wolfgang, Riot, etc.! On the same stages has some of our influences, like the Doors, Lee Michaels, Quiet Riot, early Motley Crue, etc!

Q. - Did you try to approach a label, to record an LP with Lust at that time?

Austin - This is a very touchy question that I legally can't say much about...

Yes! I was the one doing all the leg work contacting several labels. Atlantic, Capitol, Casablanca, CBS, Columbia, Fantasy and Warner Brothers, to name a few... I was either setting up face to face meetings with their reps or the old fashioned Snail Mailing many out of state labels, like their New York headquarters. I still have many typed return letters from the out of towners in my photo albums... I MUST stop there.

Q. - What do you think that went wrong at that time, so that Lust did not have continuity? What happened that lead to the break?

Austin - They kicked me out of my own band... or should I say Liam kicked me out because he wanted to run the band his way... so I left peacefully and Danny was brought in... They played a few gigs and then broke up due to Danny's drug problem. so I heard. It Failed...! I was asked to come back in and we played several gigs. Then Liam quit the band.

Keith, Richard and I found a new drummer (Craig) and played for like 6 months, recording 3 songs (Tracks 1, 2 & 3) and split up... the chemistry just didn't work....

We asked Liam to re-record 2 of the 3 drum tracks. 1 and 3 on the CD. He did it very well I might add. Great Drummer!

Our last show was at the Bla Bla Cafe on Ventura Blvd with Liam, late 1980.

Q. - Were you happy with the edition of "Hollywood Roxx 1976-80: Studio Sessions" by Dyamond Roxx in 2019? Was it like a dream come true?

Austin - Stoked... 99% Thrilled with the artwork, with the exception of 2 typo's on the actual CD print. Neither Francisco nor I caught it until after the fact. And there was a few other promo pictures I would have chosen for the artwork. Otherwise, I was Vibrating with excitement.

My only wish is that I could have remastered all the tracks from the original reel to reel tapes myself. Instead of using the mp3 files. No reflection or negativity towards Francisco himself whatsoever.. In the remastering process, the high end is nearly completely gone around 15 or 16k and up. And the bottom end was boosted too high in my opinion... So when I play the disc in my vehicle or home stereo, I have to boost the treble all the way up and drop the bass to zero or less than zero… with the loudness Off to get closer to the original recordings... So the high end of the cymbals and high end of Keith's voice and my 2 or 3 guitar parts are nearly non-existent. Janne's ear is different than mine… again, no hard feelings or resentments to anyone.

I am so vibrating with excitement to finally get the attention and CD release long-time coming… I wish Keith was here to see and hear the results of OUR years of hard work and creativity. We all miss our brother in arms.

Q. - Some years after the split Keith Deen joined Holy Terror, were you surprised by this new direction Keith was looking for?

Austin - Keith told me... he wasn't looking for it... It found him... but Yes and yet… No!

Q. - Did you follow his career in Holy Terror? What did you think of this band?

Austin - Yes... I have a few of their CD's. His bandmates and I are all friends on facebook and talk at least once a year.

Q. - Keith Deen left us in 2012, what's your thoughts about his passing?

Austin - In the last months, weeks and days we talked often on the phone... We were planning on writing new tunes, recording And doing a LUST reunion... If not do a small tour... We had already exchanged tape recordings of some new song ideas... Reunion was tentatively set for September 2012 in LA.

WE believed in each other...

I miss the man and real friend...

Q. - Did you stay in touch with the other former members all over the years?

Austin - Yes. We talk frequently. Phone, text, email, online. We are fans of each other.

Q. - Tell us a bit about your solo project Awesome Austin, did you try to release a solo album?

Austin - Yes... Track 8 on the CD was the start of this adventure.. I was playing solo shows at the Radison hotel lounge and Holiday Inn lounge in Downtown Hollywood when I was asked to record in a recording studio in Santa Monica, California. While mixing down one track I was approached by the producer to record several single 45's for a major label. Again.... I MUST stop here.

Q. - How do you see the hard rock and heavy metal scenes nowadays? Do you keep an eye on what's going on?

Austin - To me, it all sounds the same... Every band seems to use the same song writing formula.

Yes, I keep one eye open and at least one ear to the radio and or TV. There are a few bands or songs I really, really like, but I'm not naming names here.

Q. - So what are you doing these days? Do you still play in any band? Tell us a bit about it.

Austin - I'm retired... but YES! I still play in a band. It's more for fun then anything else. Lol... The Big Bucks... lol

I'm playing in a local band called "The Tony Faith Band". Covers and some original Rock. We are on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, etc.!

Q. - How do you want to end up this interview? Anything more you want to say?

Austin - Hollywood Roxx 1976-1980; Studio Sessions (Remastered) (Import)

by LUST,

Keith Deen (Vocalist) (Holy Terror)

Austin M. Carrino (Guitarist) (True Form, Network, Detroit Miss, Rukkus, Man's Ruin)

Liam Jason (Drummer) (Warrior, Rhino Bucket)

Rich Sanchez (Bassist) (Julie Hawkins Band, Run Bambe Run, Northstar)

The band with Liam, Keith, Richard and I worked... The chemistry was right on.. except Liam wanted everything his way and I wasn't having it... it was my band, I wrote all the music and Keith wrote all the lyrics.... Liam should have been democratic or silent. Again it was really Keith and I. I have to admit... Liam is/was the best drummer I ever played with and I did respect most of his input and ideas... but it was Liam that destroyed the band... LUST.... not Keith, not Richard..... not me..., it was Liam... and he knows it too....

Keith & I still worked together for a while... and then we got too busy with life and lost touch... me, my wife, and kids.. I had to earn money now to help pay for those nearest me.... I believe LUST could have been the next BIG band, if WE didn't all FUCK it up.... I miss that part of my own life these days.... It is one of my fondest memories....

RIP Keith

Austin M. Carrino &

Richard Sanchez

2020

Thank you for your time, and wish you all the best for the future!