 Is I like this I like this comment. Let's start off with a good comment today, Alan Kevin saying is this the part when I should complain that my free content hasn't started yet Yes, it is Send it to what is it send it to the complaints department upstairs? We'll file it under. I don't give a damn. All right. Here. We are today on the metal voice. We're really really Yeah, two classic bands from the 80s Jim And two friends of the show Queens, right? Mr. Todd Atari and of course striper with mr. Michael sweet. So Long-awaited releases Got to have a little preview Before they're officially launched. So you want to start with a striper Striper is going to be released October 21st on frontiers music s RL the final Look at it. That's why I knew it. I knew it. We're good. We're good. I did that on purpose. I did that on purpose So, you know, we were lucky enough to interview Michael a couple of weeks ago Mm-hmm, and He was surprised. We didn't have a copy of the album. So he took care of that in quick order And we got to listen to it enjoy it and now we get a chance to review it for all our viewers out there on the metal boys So we're starting off with striper, let me show a picture of the album You're the one to say you want to do striper. Yeah striper. Yeah, here we go. Okay. We'll do striper That's Queens rake, but I'll switch it to striper, but a boom the final battle. All right, you could start off Alan Would you well, hopefully it's not the final album. It's I mean, you know Michael's busy guy Striper's his main priority. Like you said The boys seem a little pissed on this one like that's a you know, like Michael said There's a lot of darkness in the world right now And I think this edgy edgy feeling we get on this album reflects that so You know what this is my takeaway like my first impression was this is the yellow and black attack meets soldiers under command But then I had to sort of rethink this because I kept listening to the album and I go I think this is the yellow block and black attack meets fallen You know, it's sort of it's still it's contemporary To the striper sound today that but at the same time It's got that edge of that you're talking about of the early days that yellow and black attack edge Well Michael said, you know, it's this is probably the most powerful striper album. I Mean the last couple of releases have been very powerful But if you want to talk about an aggressive power, I would not disagree You know Alan I would say This and I know you hate when I say this but this album might be one of the best striper albums in terms of song structure melody and Just sheer enjoyment of listening to him sing and play It just it just seems like they're firing off on all cylinders That's where I'm wearing my shirt. All right, so would you like which songs did you like? Well, we can get into it. I mean, you know transgressors been out for a while It just starts off with that Halford scream and you know, it's something that we're we're used to hearing on Their last releases. I mean everything's always a little bit different But I mean that sets the tone for me, it sets the tone for the rest of the album Yeah, I think so too. I think so transgressor is is like firing off on all cylinders And I everyone's heard it and I think the internet is like I think they broke the internet with that one And then you got to see no evil here. No evil, you know, again, it's still aggressive But you got those classic striper backing vocals It's a little bit darker. Yeah. Yeah, and then the same old story another this is a song that you haven't yeah Yeah, but see no here see no evil here. No evil that has been released already. Everybody's heard it, right? But as we get into the third track, which is same old story which people haven't heard Very big hook, you know, and you listen to and you go wow, I don't know man. This is just it's just That's where fallen comes into play, you know, that's a very hooky and melodic and just enjoyable. I think The bass drums guitars all together there. They're like a warp speed on this, you know, yeah It's nice. They're all kind of in sync and it's a little bit more of a Faster-paced song so Now here's the big one for me Alan hard and soul and Lots of screaming You know, maybe we just summarized this whole album I mean instead of going because people haven't heard these songs, right? Crunchy guitar Striper guitar tone and I think melody is key here It's an album. That's super melodic super infectious You walk away from this album humming the songs when you're sleeping at night. What do you think I? Took me a few listens to get into it It's a bit of a grower for me. Yeah, but I'm glad that I invested the time because The more I listen to it the more I like it I mean hard and soul just the guitar solo and there's kind of like Stevie Ray bond meets angry mom's team You know anyway J mom's team, of course You have to put the J in I would say that hard and soul probably might be one of my favorites favorite tracks And then you have the next song which is near which is It's a power ballad but gone right referring to he said he said you kind of was going for that love and boy It's over feel I've got it. I think it's more like sticks meets 6 a.m. You know again with the classic Striper backing vocals Yeah, yeah, and you know a near is is is just another and you know what I would definitely hear that lover boy when it's over You know, it's those big melodies with the big voice and You know, is it hair metal? It's probably more 80s metal than anything right hard rock metal in the 80s and always with that Striper stamp, right? Any other songs you like Yeah, I think there's you know, there's a song it's called out up and in There's rise to the call which I didn't you and I were just talking before the show and that happens to be both of our favorite song Incredible incredible. That's like raising your face. It's really classic striper. Yeah. Yeah, that's one song on here He's probably the one that summed it up the best No rest for the wicked is a really dark something that might even be found on reborn So Till death do us part. I find that more of a late era striper what they've been doing more recently ashes to ashes That's that's like painkiller on Valium Intros it got the fast guitars to kick it Nothing's as fast as painkiller as far. That's why I say it's on Valium because Painkiller is pretty darn fast Yeah, well, you know everything you're saying I agree with I mean It's the sound that people love about striper and you know what Michael's saying Boston meets Pantera meets 80 striper Yeah, that's a very good assessment a good way Hey guys seeing them in 10 22 open for priests. I think they're referring to a Queens, right? brings a wiki I Would say and I'm gonna say this one more time. It's the yellow and black attack Has a baby with fallen and this is the baby This is what comes out of it and this might be and I said this to you right before I started One of their strongest albums and I think Michael said this and at first I go I don't know if I believe him or not, but then I go wait a second. He's a born-again Christian He's not lying. So he's bang on the money. He's it's an exciting album I love the sound this is an album that you will and I'll say it again The melodies will be stuck in your head. That's how well the songs are considered. I like I like the drum sound I like the drumming. I think there's some great bass lines on a few of the songs, especially same old story And of course Michael Like I said, there's some interesting guitar solos. I don't know if it's Oz or Michael is doing it But and then of course Michael's voice He still hits those high notes and he's proud to hit those high notes like I said, there's a quite a bit of screaming and But overall, yeah a very strong album I mean they just like everything they've released, you know throughout their career even there Especially the most recent stuff. It's like I think you said it once before Jim that they're like a fine wine They just get better with age and and this album is Hopefully not the final album. It's called the final battle, but there'll be more coming down the road So good news for all you striper and metal fans out there. You will not be disappointed pre-order the album now If you love striper in the past, then you're really really gonna love this album and I think you could even hear some snippets online somewhere and It's that good. I know that people went wild after transgressor was released So it's it's there is variety, but done in a great way and Congratulations to striper pick up the album October 21st pre-order now. You will not be disappointed. All right switching gears Unless you have something else to say on striper Alan. Oh, I mean You know transgressor Michael said they kind of teased everybody with that. It wasn't the strongest one on the album In his estimation and yeah, I think there's a few other songs the way they released it He was big on the sequencing of the songs. I think it's it's come off quite quite well Yeah, yeah, definitely, you know, I'm not gonna rate this album yet But it's definitely way above an eight or a point five out of ten like it's it's it's definitely gonna be one of their Best and time will be very kind to this album people will love it more and more. That's all I can say about it I mean you got the tone the the screen you got the screaming you got the guitar tone You got the crunchy guitars. You got the solo you got the classic backing vocals So it's striper at at their best with great songs. So That's it. It's a metal album, too Definitely definitely Here Jason saying is it heavier than the last three or the same I Would say heavier It's more raw. Yeah, is this on was the other ones are Hard to beat But the album as good as fallen I would say heavier. All right, I would say heavier and darker Okay, is the album as good as fallen Fallen's a good album That's why I was saying like I said this one for me was better more of a grower. I had to you know Really go back to it a few times But I'm glad I did because it's a it's a really good album where some of the other ones recently had a more of an immediate effect on me Yeah See I love fallen like Yahweh is an incredible. So the whole album is great, but I think this album is great Again, it's a mix between the To that was a great album. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, but but fallen is a great album and this this is that was a heavy album, too No more hell to pay. Yeah. All right, man. So let's switch it to a Queens rake Unless somebody else has any questions about this album will be more than happy to answer Let's take it up. Let's bring out. There it is another classic band and You know, I mean, it's hard that you you want it you want to you want to keep your classic sound I think that's something they were very clear ever since You know Todd joined the band and but you got to sound modern at the same time You can't sound like you're still in the 80s and I think they definitely achieved that on digital noise alliance So I would say it's the most classic sounding Queens rake album In a long long time. I gotta say first It's gonna be released October the 7th So pre-order the album now pick it up. It's entry entry media. All right. That's how I'm gonna start it off Alan I would agree with you and this is This is where I was kind of like mixed and I'm gonna be completely honest with everybody So we're friends with Todd we're friends with Michael sweet You know and then they released And then, you know, there's this awkwardness of you know, I really want to like their album But what if I don't like it then what then what do I do, right? But Thankfully these two albums are rock solid and I told Todd this I told him This is one of the best Todd Littori era albums and I also told him There are many songs on this album that are in the top as songs Queens rake catalog. So if you take all of the Queens, right the Jeff years and the Todd years There are songs on this album that qualify as some of the best Songs Queens rake has ever written. So if that's clear for everybody your 16th studio album, can you believe it like That's a lot of albums. It's a lot of albums. It's hard to write You know, you know, I enjoyed a little side trips that they did with Jeff like American soldier I know you did it. No, I didn't like that. We've we've discussed that in the past But now, you know, we've seen Todd live I've seen him, you know perform a couple of times and you're like, that's wow That's the Queens rake. I remember but you know Todd also proved on his solo album How many you know his voice is all the different stylings that he can do, right? And now we got him doing this album. Okay, and the and the previous albums It's a certain style that fits with this type of music He can do a lot more with his voice, but he's just I don't I don't want to say the word Pigeon hold that's not the right word But it's like he's found the sound that goes with this band and these types of songs Sometimes you want and you do hear you do hear, you know, a lot of the backing vocals you can hear Todd's I'm assuming it's him singing the backing vocals as well But there's a lot of really interesting stuff going on vocally on a lot of these songs So and then, you know, a lot of them sound like classic like for me if we want to get into a gym I mean, you know songs like lost in the sorrow or behind the walls They could you know, they wouldn't have been out of place on empire And when you're talking about a classic sound That's where that's how strongly these songs are I mean, they go right back to that era Maybe it's because Michael was they pulled out his marshals from back in the day And they changed them on every song that it maybe lends to that kind of feel because of the amplifiers But I mean there's it really is a fine line to stay relevant and sound modern But still respect your past and I think they did a great job on this album doing doing both You know Casey's drumming is like if you take the last song now Tormentum What is this? No, no, we'll get to that in a minute Tormentum there's this sort of It's kind of like queens right meets Judas Priest Meets rage for order is somewhere like that. That's right. That's got a mine crime feel for me. I mean it takes Takes me right back to mine crime But there's this middle section this jazzy middle section where the drumming is sort of he's got these off beats going and he's just like wow Man, it's like some sick drumming man. You're like Scott rock and field. Who? It's like whoa crap. This is like some serious drumming there And then you take a song like which people have not heard um Out of the black The melody Is so strong if this was the 80s. I can hear that song being played on the radio That's how strong the melody is But at the same time it's complicated Where you could consider it prog rock So there's got so many little nuances. I will say Of that that are little stuff that's going on, but it's melodic enough to get some airplay Yeah, I want to go to the drumming too. That's a great point Jim because you know I think Scott rock and field is both of our one of our favorite drummers that we both have and Casey I mean, he does a great job on this album. So, you know, he had scott's definitely got his own style. That's what I would say He's a big part of the queen's right sound and on this this album. Casey's done a great job to really Bring his own sound and his own style to the album. So I agree man. You know what I like about lost and sorrow and you just talked about it before you said it belongs Maybe on an empire era. I agree either empire or operation mine crime because operation mine crime has those sort of Mid paste songs with big melodies and haunting lyric Haunting keyboards sort of in the background And it could have easily it could easily fit on operation mine crime or on empire It's it's that good and even the delivery the vocal vocal delivery on the psalms 10 out of 10 Yeah, if you want to get into the vocals now, my favorite vocal is it's on sick death I think Todd does lots of interesting stuff on there, but The best example, you know his shining moment on the album for me and it's it's I think it's your favorite song The album as well. It's forest, you know Todd's a little more restrained but extremely sincere on that song And I think that's his shining moment on this album is his forest But I my my best I I prefer the vocals on on sick death. I think he did a great job on that so For me, uh, I agree with you there Sick death some great gritty little vocals happening. There's a lot of dynamics there, but forest Forest to me is up there with silent lucidity with You know, it's it's it's kind of the same, but it's different, you know It's it's it's it's basically Todd singing and it's sort of like his chest voice his deeper tones and even though it's a little higher, but It's that song I could see it in a movie You know and some sort of you know soundtrack to a movie, you know Someone's dying at the end of the show the movie and you know the scene and I couldn't see that song If that was released in the 80s that would have been you know the song That the go-to song for all the women and all the men. Yeah, I think you know as you're listening to it You know you're hearing all the songs, you know in extremis is a great opener And you're listening to it and that is a song when you when it by the time you get to forest It's a song that definitely stands out from the pack. I agree Yeah, yeah, yeah, so francis goes it's same but different, you know, I guess what you're trying to say here is It's different in the sense that they're kind of going into new territory But it still has that stamp of queen's rake at the end of the day, right? You know, I think Todd said it best here in the press kit You know, we're all advocates for certain characteristics that are very indicative to the band's sound But the challenge for us is blending that history and the nuances that are important and true to the band But still feel modern. So, I mean, I got that feeling from the album without even reading reading that quote So I think that if that was the if that was the goal, then they got a hundred percent It's it's an a plus album and effort, you know, if that was the goal, so Uh, I think they nailed it And it is a fine line and we see a lot of bands that try to go out of their way to do something different And not sound the same always and the fans skew them sometimes for it And you know, but then again if they sound like they did back in 1983, nobody would be buying it anymore So it's it's a fine line and I think they did a great job on this album You know, it's the verdict sort of like the next organic step from the verdict But it also touches on different eras Of a queen's rake because I couldn't really you can't take the sound and say it sounds. Oh, it's like the warning Oh, it's like operation minecraft it borrows Sounds from those eras, but it's still an organic growth from the verdict, which I thought the verdict was a great album And still in the production Zeus Kills it on this album. The guitar work is is always great. You know, it's it's it's it's that queen's rake Guitar sound it's always there I know a lot of people miss to garmo, but wilton does a excellent job And like you said kasey the drumming is just outstanding Look and and i'm gonna warn everybody right now when I first put it on I was like, uh, it's okay And then I heard it again and again and I go i'm gonna really dive into this album and really take my time to listen to it on headphones on speakers And you know what the more times I listen to it It just friggin grew on me more and more because you get to notice stuff You get to get into the melodies and those are usually the best albums You know in music histories the ones that take the time to just Settle in there's just so much information. You need to absorb it. You need time to absorb it all It's I agree. It's definitely a grower I mean you have to listen to it a few times like you said there's there's a lot going on And if you're just casually listening to it, you you you won't get all the nuances You won't appreciate the album as much as far as I'm concerned. I know that's what happened to me Yeah, that's that's exactly what happened to me while I'm working I'll you know, listen to something in the background and you're like, you're not really paying attention That's what happened there. Then you want to go back and Revisit it a few times. So Like you said lost in sorrow for me the way that song ends where you know, it's what fit It would it would not be out of place on empire. That's I asked Todd What is like he hits these really high notes at the end of lost in sorrow? I go, what note is that? He goes, I don't know I don't know No, and and again, I think you bring up a good point. I mean You know, it's a fourth album with Todd's 16th studio album overall and I mean, there's definitely a comfort level probably and you know, they were building off the momentum of the verdict and and and The pandemic hit so it's nice to see that they they kept the field They actually like for me like like you said, jimmy is the field the atmosphere has grown on this album So it keeps, you know, they're advancing Todd's an integral part of the band. He's not a sideman that's for sure and you can see where The new sound is definitely coming together And uh, it has been quite successful on this album. So I like to also point out hold on which I found I thought was another it's like a throwback to the 80s in a sense, right? And and Todd was right when we talked to him about this There's a lot of variety on this album and there is you'll hear oh, that sounds like, you know, rage for harder Oh, that sounds like empire. Oh, that sounds like uh Operation mind crime you'll heal bits and pieces But they're done in a new way, you know A fresh approach to taking what they did in the past and you said it best Allen. They're just they're they're it's now It's right. It's a sound of now blended in with the past But to me again, it is the next step after the verdict. All right, here we go. You ready for this You're ready. Surprise me. Surprise me. Yeah Rebel yell What'd you think they did a cover of rebel yell? Is that considered a bonus track or I think it's considered a bonus track What do you think? Well, you know, I mean again Todd does is uh, you know This changes his voice a little bit and does a little bit of old matters to uh Billy idle, I think on there but the overall song and everything. I mean, it sounds It's a great song to begin with but they kind of made it their own and uh Queens rightized it But it's it's you know, it's it's definitely uh Something that you know Is way out there compared to the rest of the album as far as I'm concerned So it's a it's a fun way to end an album. I think they had a good time doing it And uh, it's really different for the for the overall feel and atmosphere of the album. I find You know cover songs are like hidden misses for me Either you elevate it to something better or it's gonna fall flat and in this case I think they elevated it. They took the original which is great. I'm a huge Billy idle fan I love 80s music. You know that that's just me They took a song that I loved And like you said the queens liked it, right? They tweaked it And they kept it Also pure towards core like the vocals, you know very similar delivery The keyboard sounds are there the shotgun the machine gun sort of sound on the guitar solo is still there So they've rickified it But at the same time they preserved the essence of what makes that song great So knocked it out of the park for me I think rebel yell will bring in another crowd that they don't have today I hope it sounded like they had a fun time doing it too. So, uh, I mean, you know ed guy I think ed guy did one in the They rocked me amadeus and they made it their own too. So some of these 80 songs are still alive and well and Being revisited with the in a little bit more of a heavier fashion. So I guess on a final note I'd like to say that Todd did tell us that there's a lot of videos that they're gonna come out for this album And I think it's it's a good idea because the videos Help you digest the album with so much information and This is is the perfect time to have a lot of videos for this album because You'll get to appreciate the songs more when there's a video you're using now your eyes as a sense And uh albums that are a lot more difficult to consume. It's the right way to go That's it. So overall, you know, I'm not gonna rate it now But I'll tell you it's really high up there in the ratings Uh, it is a grower. Do not be worried people when you play for the first time when you play for the first time Don't freak out. Say, oh, I can't believe queens right. What are they doing? Play it a few times. Let it grow on you. You know, uh, like a fine wine And you'll you'll get to really queens right fans will love it and they'll surely get some more fans From this album. So just some comments here, Jim Yeah, well, I want to say bonjour J'espère que tout va bien à francis Salut francis. I agree with mike wholeheartedly We need some new ed guy music, but the good news is avantageous Gonna have a new album out in the meantime So and rick, I did see ed guy once myself. They promised they'd be back to montreal And they've never come so toby did not fulfill his promise on that but they did come with avantageous all right So uh t mc is saying By rejoice the suffering. I agree with that. Hey salut tout le monde. That's francis That's all the moment to be zamy. I love you and I have to go and that's true Hair metal rule says cheers from dumbland guys Paulo saying get the king diamond interview merciful fate touring us in canada Okay, we're waiting we're waiting by the phone. No, it's not ringing It's not ring james. Got his tickets. That's for sure if it's James got my tickets. We're going me my buddy ron. We're going Is anybody else have any questions about uh, the new queen's rake or the new Striper elm and always allen you please wear a care bear suit in the next show Care bear. I'm not sure if I have one But you had one No, no, no, I'm sorry. That was a snoopy one. Yeah Cheers from mobile alabama mobile mobile alabama. Is that where it is? The diligent combat says tata la toria rips. I couldn't care less if jeff tate rejoined the band I mean, that's a good question. I mean They're on a roll Right, they're gonna be touring with judas priest. It seems like there's this upward momentum happening They're coming out with this great new album Why bring back, you know, why bring back uh, I but you know, there was some rumors, right happening Maybe rumors are always happening, but there's something. Uh, there was something going around the internet I think I think You never say never But I think uh, they're both uninteresting paths right now that the split has happened and uh, this album is proof of that You know and we wish uh, jeff well, you know, we hope you know wish him, you know Great shows and he's doing well at his shows and jeff has always been very accommodating to the metal voice And he's a true gentleman and it's always a pleasure to sit down and have a Have a few a conversation with him. So But metal madness wants to know when's the next tawd interview hang scheduled We got to do a 1994 show. Apparently that's we're delayed Are we a 94? Yeah, you you did your preliminary list and we never revisited it. So tawd's a busy guy. He will be busier and busier But we'll have to we'll have to get that get him back on to Do one of those shows again Jason just asked when's the next top 10 metal album? Uh What's the next top 10 metal albums by year and so I guess 94 you answer that out because I lost track Todd's busy promoting his new album and his tour and we're busy, uh, you know doing these shows. So yep soon soon That's it. Um, what else you got nothing else? Uh, no, no There's lots of lots of good touring going on a little too much. It's hard on the wallet The albums are coming fast and furious I and the great news. I just read it before coming on live here Your steel panther has found a bassist It's about time about time you can sleep well at night And they'll be out on tour as well Sounds like they're gonna go on tour with blackstone cherry. So there's some shows coming up if you're a steel panther fan For me, allen in a week. It's the uh, the bass strikes back Death angel exodus testament then we got our and made it in ottawa 10 after that sabbaton epica sabbaton epica and Then it's commercial fate in november And there you go. That's it. They were sitting at home for too long and now it's it's one show after another So nothing but good news to see all these bands Especially king diamond. Wow. That's a massive tour for it That's it. That's it. He's playing the bell center in laval So stay tuned to the metal voice. Thank you for tuning in and we'll have to review as much as we can All those shows we just named so yeah, and you know what on last note stay tuned for sabbaton interview Coming up next. All right guys. Thanks