Mattowarrior's Metal Madness

Vaudeville Remedy is a self proclaimed “blues/punk” band from  Assiniboia, Saskatchewan, Canada.  At first I thought the location they gave was a joke, but then I googled it, and indeed there is a town with that name (Populaton:  2,389).  However, you can seriously expect a sardonically humorous element to their new release, “I've Got An Idea For Christmas​.​.​. The three piece band has been around 2009 and has six releases (at least from what is listed on bandcamp). The album is a concept one, purportedly about “a heroin junkie's misadventures throughout the holiday season”. The song, "Home Alone 6" (hey, I thought there were only 2 or 3 films) starts out the album. It features some calliope type backing keyboards, and almost has a slightly New Wave post punk feel to it. The second song, “I've Got an Idea for Christmas” has an almost Stooges style shuffle, and appropriate hooks. "XXXmas Alley", follows and has a b

                                                     Judas Priest- Firepower  (2018) By now, we've all heard the controversy. Some controversial remarks by former co-lead guitarist KK Downing regarding the new album by Judas Priest, Firepower. How much the now publicly Parkinson's disease suffering guitarist Glenn Tipton plays on the album isn't exactly known, bands for years have obfuscated how much tweaking from session musicians albums have had, Kiss's Psycho Circus being a notorious example. Priest singer Halford has responded in the press by saying that Tipton played on the album. Whoever you believe, it's the music that matters, and the new Priest does deliver the goods to a certain extent in that respect. One thing that is apparent is that getting knob twiddler Andy Sneap at the production helm is a move that should be followed by other veteran metal bands. I can think of two examples right away that come to mind, namely Iron Maiden and Danzig wou