Fatal Opera to release final album after 20 years

Some bands are a bit legendary for me since they were using a sound formula not to be heard too often. It's like this with Fatal Opera, a band from the US that featured ex Megadeth drummer Gar Samuelson and his brother Stew Samuelson.

They had a jazz influenced way to set up the songs and the first album "Fatal Opera" to me personally also feels a bit as if Jimi Hendrix's feeling for exploring heavy guitar sounds mixed with various rhythm was continued by the band.

A old band picture of Fatal Opera, Photo Credit unknown after 20 years.

These days I'm surprised to learn that the band had a third album "Fatal Opera III" in the makings before Gar Samuelson died. Now 20 years later the results of these writing sessions are about to be released but in a special way with many upgrades and specials.

The street date for the LP has been announced to be Summer 2020 via Combat Records.

The album will include guest appearances from Megadeth’s Chris Poland and David Ellefson, who will appear on the track “The Raven”, which will mark the first time Poland, Ellefson and Samuelson have appeared on a track together since Megadeth’s seminal Peace Sells.. But Who’s Buying, as well as additional guest appearances from Poland, and New Yorkers bassist Robbie “Pags” Pagliari, marking the first time the original lineup of The New Yorkers (Poland and Samuelson’s pre-Megadeth Jazz/fusion project, also featuring guitarist Stew Samuelson) has appeared together on a commercial recording.

Also making a guest appearance on “The Raven” is Ellefson vocalist, and COMBAT Records A&R, Thom Hazaert.

Fatal Opera III, is the final chapter in the band’s legacy, featuring the final recordings of Samuelson, who passed away in 1999. Fatal Opera began work on a new album prior to Gar’s passing, and the tracks sat for almost 20 years, until they were finally revisited. Enough tracks were found to create Fatal Opera III, produced and mixed by Andy Freeman. The remaining members joined forces to finish the album that was started so many years ago, released in a fitting tribute and celebration to the legacy of Gar Samuelson, and Fatal Opera.

Vocalist Andy Freeman says, “It was a long time in the making, but it truly was a labor of love, putting together this final release. It was an honor and a privilege to work with David and Thom, who helped make this album possible, and getting Chris and David together with Gar once again brought the whole project full circle. We are very pleased that it will finally see the light of day, and hope that it will be an offering to our fans, and a fitting final musical tribute to Gar."

Megadeth bassist, and Combat Records owner, David Ellefson says, “Gar was one of the more unorthodox, unpredictable, and musically compelling drummers I've ever played with. His legacy continues to grow with the passage of time. So, it's an honor for me to have this posthumous performance with Gar, in honor of his incredible musicianship and legacy he left for us all to enjoy.”

Make sure to keep a eye on Combat Records Facebook page for further announcements of this release.

CD Review: Mikey Cunningham & The Aftermath - Massive head wound (Instrumental Metal, 2016)

This record shows how much you can dive deeply into the world of instrumental rock sometimes slightly mixed with power and progressive elements.

The cover of "Massive head wound", (c) by Mikey Cunningham & The Aftermath, used with kind permission

Summary
The album let's the screaming six strings speak out loud and clearly to the listener. On most of the arrangements the start goes in straight forward with compact riffing and drums that power up the rocking message. Afterwards it's time to show some solo's and a lot of guitar technique's. It comes around a bit like in those days when Jimi Hendrix was alive and put out a new record. The world was stunned to hear what he was able to make of his instrument.

Something similar remains in my mind having listened to this disc. I like that these elements still add to the song as a whole so it's not only a presentation of solo's. The only downside is that nearly all the songs are build like this so after some time some feeling of repeat comes in. But this is the way it is - I think it's already hard enough to get something like this done at all. Please remember that instrumental artists cannot rely upon standard song structures so the pure sound is all they can offer. Sometimes I had to think of Jazz songs listening to the tunes of "Massive head wound" but this can be seen as a plus as I enjoy listening to that genre from time to time, too.

The fine sound of the production made me feel comfortable and added a lot to the listening pleasure. The guitars are sharp but not to hard so they remain enjoyable. Drums are lound and clear most of all the snare set's a mark. It's a pleasure  to hear the band feels as one so it's not guitars all the way with nothing behind it. Surely a strong band backing a cool guitar performance. Don't miss this one out instrumental heads out there.

Purchase- and Preview-Link
You can pick up the album as download through the widget on the band homepage. It costs 9,99 Dollar and you can pay with Paypal. Here we have the track "Creepy Halloween Cat" for you to check out.

Contact Data
Follow the instrumental band on Facebook for show updates etc.

Who brought paradigm shift to the guitar player world?

As some of you may've read in previous interviews here on the Underdogs page inspiration can be sourced of various things. But paradigm shift? Something that changed things for times to come? That doesn't happen often I think.

Today we have a nice little article preview for you out of the hand's of the Rock Candy magazine talking about this subject. The mag is a print product available online and in many shops worlwide. It is put together by respected UK rock journalists Derek Oliver, Howard Johnson and Malcolm Dome, all frontline writers for the legendary Kerrang! magazine in the golden era.

The cover of the February / March 2018 edition of Rock Candy magazine, (c) by Rock Candy magazine, used with kind permission

It talks about iconic as well as more unknown acts of past and present days (for instance the making of Judas Priest's "Screaming for vengeance" album). You can get your copy from the papermag's homepage and follow them on Facebook.

Read on and find out what Steve Vai say's about paradigm shift in the world of guitar players.

Speaking exclusively about his deep appreciation of Edward Van Halen in the new issue of Rock Candy magazine, Vai told editor Howard Johnson, “There are so many guitar heroes I love, and maybe even prefer over Edward in a sense. But the two guitar players who really created a paradigm shift in my opinion were Jimi Hendrix and Edward Van Halen. Everybody else has contributed wonderfully to the art form. But when you look at scope of their individual contributions and how they became pivotal turning points for guitar playing, those two guys were the most effective.”

In a wide-ranging interview all about the Van Halen legend that forms part of Rock Candy mag’s 14 page VH feature in the current issue, Vai recalls hearing Edward’s playing for the first time when he was a student at Berklee College of Music in Boston in the late ‘70s.

“’You Really Got Me’ came on the radio, with the ‘Eruption’ solo tagged on at the start,” he explained. “We were just all completely stunned.”

In a long and illustrious career, Steve Vai has produced some of the most loved guitar music ever recorded, while also bringing his outstanding combination of flash and technique to some of rock’s greatest acts, including Whitesnake and, of course, David Lee Roth. Between 1985 and 1989 Vai performed a number of Edward’s songs alongside the former Van Halen frontman during the height of Roth’s solo career.

“Playing Van Halen songs is such a hoot,” he told Rock Candy. “Especially when you’ve got David Lee Roth singing them! ‘Panama’ is just great. ‘Unchained’ and ‘Ain’t Talkin’ ‘Bout Love’ too. We’d play a whole lot of Van Halen tunes and they were always wonderful. The parts were constructed perfectly, because Edward has real completeness as a guitar player.”

The full interview can be found in the issue February / March 2018 of Rock Candy magazine. Other bands also featured in this issue are:

CINDERELLA
MICHAEL SCHENKER
JUDAS PRIEST
MOTORHEAD
DEEP PURPLE
THE US FESTIVAL
POISON
FOGHAT
RUSH
MARILLION
RATT
HANOI ROCKS
GARY MOORE AND PHIL LYNOTT
VENOM
AC/DC
YNGWIE MALMSTEEN
GENE SIMMONS
JIMMY BARNES
DIO  

Live Review: Purple Rhino - Rock am Pferdemarkt Lingen 16.09.2016

Not all the young bands are into modern styles of the hard genre - this one in fact goes more back to the days of classic Hard Rock and Blues Rock of the 70s.

Introduction

I've heard of Purple Rhino several times before I saw them first live. The local newspaper here had some show announcements of the band in their news section and I knew it was one of the bands that could be worth it. But in fact it never happened due to several circumstances that it took until this years Open Air season that I could check them out.

Purple Rhino live at Rock am Pferdemarkt Lingen 2016, (c) by Jörg Everding Fotografie

Summary

To make things a bit more exciting I didn't look up the band on the internet before. I knew of several other live shows that it was more fun if you know nothing about them beforehand and have all the surprise at the gig. I didn't regret my decision since they put on a great set. This band reminds me of classic Rock and Metal bands in the style of Jimi Hendrix and Deep Purple.

Especially the first named influence shown through many times at their set at Rock am Pferdemarkt. Guitar player Chris put's on a good signature on the band's sound while the rhythm section keeps it more in a basic tonality and style staying mostly in the background. It should be mentioned that vocalist / bassist Felix also adds a lot to the music and gives it a fresh drive everytime things seem to get a bit in far too deep with instrumental solos. They had this one slow song on their set whose name I don't know of (that's the downside of not listening to a band's music in advance of a show :-). It had a distressing and calming effect on me while I had some sort of thrill all the while - thank you for this special moment!

Purple Rhino live at Rock am Pferdemarkt Lingen 2016, (c)  by Jörg Everding Fotografie

Purple Rhino offer a good mixture of entertaining rock and metal music that goes straight into the heart of the listener combined with sections that will satisfy the fans that love the technical aspects, precision and timing of progressive music. The signature move toward the end when vocalist Felix and guitar player Chris got down on their knees to drive towards each other rounded out a impressive performance which is a good reason for me to keep a eye upon the further band's activities. As for me Purple Rhino were by far the best band on this year's edition of Rock am Pferdemarkt. Here is their current official video to give you a idea of the band's sound and performance.



Contact Data

Make sure to see the band's Facebook page to stay in touch or head on to the webshop where you can purchase their record for a fair price that could make a nice gift for christmas to rock and metal fans. They are regulary playing shows so a look at the homepage is also a good idea. Here are the next dates:

23.12.2016 - Gaststätte Stock, Hagen - Germany
29.12.2016 - Lagerhalle, Osnabrück - Germany
21.01.2017 - Truck Stop, Wildeshausen - Germany
02.03.2017 - Fernsehkonzert Kanal 21, Bielefeld - Germany