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Posts tagged Halford
Halford – Winter Songs (2009) (@256)
08 Jun 2010
(Review from allmusic, ultimate-guitar.com)
At first glance, Halford’s entry into the crowded holiday market looks like a parody. Even the pastoral cover art — which depicts Rob Halford staring wistfully (with a goatee and shades) into a soft, snowy pine forest screams “Spinal Tap”.
The idea however works quite well, thanks to Halford’s careful selection of traditional Christmas songs that translate well to the metal genre, mixed in with a few original songs on the same subject. He approaches yuletide standards like “We Three Kings” and “What Child Is This?” with the same conviction that he applied to Priest classics.
While “Winter Songs” may not be mainstream enough for the department store Santa kiosk, it’s a surprisingly cohesive and listenable addition to the genre — and if skillfully disguised in an appropriate jewel case, it could make Christmas morning truly joyful.
Line-up:
- Rob Halford / lead vocals
- Roy Z / guitars, arrangements, production, engineering
- Mike Chlasciak / guitars
- Mike Davis / bass
- Bobby Jarzombek / drums, percussion
Track List:
01. Get Into The Spirit – 5:26
02. We Three Kings – 4:06
03. Oh Come O Come Emanuel – 4:38
04. Winter Song – 5:38
05. What Child Is This? – 4:27
06. Christmas For Everyone – 3:06
07. I Don’t Care – 3:14
08. Light Of The World – 4:13
09. Oh Holy Night – 4:09
10. Come All Ye Faithful – 2:27
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Halford – Crucible (2002) (@256)
23 Dec 2008
(Review from amazon, metal-reviews.com)
‘Crucible’ is the second studio release from the Halford band. Paying no attention to current trends and sell-out bandwagons, the former Judas Priest frontman and his mighty crew stay true to traditional heavy metal, yet they never come across as dated.
This isn’t ‘Resurrection’ all over again; instead, there are several different styles apparent, some of which are hard to pinpoint exactly. You have your ‘Painkiller’-era rippers, a few Fight influenced tracks, perhaps, and then there are a couple that show a flair that’s maybe new to even Halford. There’s a little experimentation… but it’s still metal, though — not to worry there.
Guitar duo Patrick Lachman and Mike Chlasciak swap monstrous riffs and fluid solos that are as solid as a brick wall, while Halford himself is in top form, able to reach high notes with an ease that could put youngster shriekers to shame. Even when he belts out the album’s only ballad, the bonus track “She”, it’s with unsurpassed conviction. The album is a nonstop metallic assault complete with anthems (“One Will”), speed metal (“Betrayal”), and accessible midtempo rockers (“Sun”), as well as dark and moody moments, such as “Crystal” (which deals with the dangers of crystal-meth addiction).
Line-up:
- Rob Halford / Lead Vocals
- Patrick Lachman / Guitar
- Mike Chlasciak / Guitar
- Ray Riendeau / Bass
- Bobby Jarzombek / Drums
Track List:
01. Park Manor – 1:11
02. Crucible – 4:26
03. One Will – 3:32
04. Betrayal – 3:04
05. Handing Out Bullets – 3:16
06. Hearts Of Darkness – 3:48
07. Crystal – 4:37
08. Heretic – 3:49
09. Golgotha – 4:20
10. Wrath Of God – 3:11
11. Weaving Sorrow – 3:28
12. Sun – 3:48
13. Trail Of Tears – 5:56
14. She (Bonus) – 4:01
15. Fugitive (Bonus) – 4:01
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Halford – Live Insurrection (2001) (@320)
22 Dec 2008
(Review from amazon, metal-reviews.com)
Capitolizing on the energy and success of his recently-completed world tour with Iron Maiden, Halford unleash a double album chock full of ripping, classic metal.
This impressive live album covers all phases of Rob Halford’s career. There are tracks from the band’s ‘Resurrection’ album, there’s Fight material, even 2wo and there’s also a generous spackling of Priest cuts — including several that haven’t seen the “live” light of day in over a decade.
The band attack Halford’s songs with taut force and accuracy. From newer gems such as “Made in Hell” to Priest staples “Electric Eye” and “Breaking the Law” to a duet with Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson, this comprehensive collection was largely recorded at various venues throughout a seven-month tour.
After the live performance is over with there are three studio songs, one being a new Halford songs and the two others being lost Judas Priest songs that Halford has recorded. All three smoke with “Screaming in the Dark” sounding like a heavier “Resurrection”, “Heart of a Lion” being a Judas Priest rocker, and “Prisoner of Your Eyes” being a Judas Priest ballad.
Line-up:
- Rob Halford / Lead Vocals
- Pat Lachman / Guitar
- Mike Chlasciak / Guitar
- Ray Riendeau / Bass
- Bobby Jarzombek / Drums
with
- Bruce Dickinson / Vocals (10)
Track List:
CD1
01. Resurrection – 4:02
02. Made in Hell – 4:13
03. Into the Pit – 4:15
04. Nailed to the Gun – 3:35
05. Light Comes Out of Black – 5:00
06. Stained Class – 5:32
07. Jawbreaker – 3:25
08. Running Wild – 3:02
09. Slow Down – 4:40
10. The One You Love to Hate – 3:11
11. Life in Black – 4:26
12. Hell’s Last Survivor – 3:24
13. Sad Wings – 3:33
14. Saviour – 2:57
15. Silent Screams – 7:32
CD2
01. Intro – 0:14
02. Cyberworld – 3:04
03. The Hellion – 0:48
04. Electric Eye – 3:29
05. Riding on the Wind – 3:10
06. Genocide [1st Encore] – 7:36
07. Beyond the Realms of Death – 6:51
08. Metal Gods [2nd Encore] – 4:34
09. Breaking the Law – 3:50
10. Tyrant – 4:41
11. Screaming in the Dark (Studio) – 3:41
12. Heart of a Lion (Studio) – 3:51
13. Prisoner of Your Eyes (Studio) – 4:33
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Halford – Resurrection (2000) (@320)
21 Dec 2008
(Review from allmusic)
Former Judas Priest vocalist Rob Halford finally re-embraced his roots, formed a band simply called Halford. He brought out the leather and motorcycle and recruited guitarists Patrick Lachman and Mike Chlasciak, bassist Ray Riendeau, and drummer Bobby Jarzombek to start over. The band recorded 2000′s Resurrection, a tremendous album of pure heavy metal.
Halford stretches his voice out by utilizing everything from piercing falsetto wails to sinister, throaty rumbles. Some songs have autobiographical lyrics, particularly the stunning one-two opening punch of “Resurrection” and “Made in Hell”. The former features Halford admitting to past mistakes while the latter is a history lesson on the creation and rise of heavy metal. “Locked and Loaded” is a bit slower and the guitars settle into a groove, but the song’s power isn’t jeopardized. “Night Fall” sounds like a great lost Judas Priest song, and that’s meant as a compliment.
The seven-minute “Silent Screams” starts slowly and builds into a fiery rocker complete with Halford’s multi-tracked vocals. Heavy metal fans will quake with joy after hearing Halford’s duet with Iron Maiden’s Bruce Dickinson on “The One You Love to Hate”, a brutal three-minute blowout. “Slow Down” is another example of Halford displaying a variety of vocal styles within the same song. “Drive” and “Saviour” include traces of speed metal, the style Judas Priest embraced on 1990′s Painkiller, Halford’s last with the band.
This is literally a “Resurrection” for Rob Halford.
Line-up:
- Rob Halford / Vocals
- Patrick Lachman / Guitar
- Mike Chlasciak / Guitar
- Ray Riendeau / Bass
- Bobby Jarzombek / Drums
with
- Bruce Dickinson / Vocals (6)
- Pete Parada / Drums (6)
- Ed Ross / Keyboards (5,9)
Track List:
01. Resurrection – 3:58
02. Made in Hell – 4:12
03. Locked and Loaded – 3:19
04. Night Fall – 3:41
05. Silent Screams – 7:07
06. The One You Love to Hate – 3:12
07. Cyberworld – 3:09
08. Slow Down – 4:51
09. Twist – 4:09
10. Temptation – 3:32
11. Drive – 4:31
12. Saviour – 2:57
Links in comments.