Hollywood Vampires, Gygax + More

Here are some of the new albums that come out today:

The Hollywood Vampires – Rise

When news came out that Alice Cooper, Joe Perry, and Johnny Depp were getting together for a project, people thought it was a one-off that would be blown off by many, including the members of the band. What people didn’t expect is that the first album, made up of covers would actually be really good.

The second album is made up mostly of original material and sees all three of the aforementioned members of the band take turns singing lead. The material does not suffer, and the album is arguably better than the first going beyond a Hollywood gimmick, to actually going further to prove their some of Hollywood’s greatest rock stars!

Gygax – High Fantasy

Eric Harris is back with his third album after burying Gypsyhawk. For those that don’t understand the band because they were expecting some schlocky power metal that just recited cliched D&D-related lyrics, please look elsewhere, or get your information straight before discussing the band.

You can’t absolutely love Baroness’ Gold & Grey, and say how much they sound like Mastodon, when Mastodon, Baroness and Gygax all borrow heavily from Thin Lizzy. If you’re a fan of Harris’ work in both Gygax and Gypsyhawk, you’ll no doubt dig this album.

Kryptos – Afterburner

Here’s a band that falls under the new to me flag, they were formed in 1998 in India, and Afterburner is their fifth album. The band isn’t reinventing the wheel here, Nolan Lewis’ are reminiscent of Kreator’s Mille Petrozza, while the music sounds like a mix between the aforementioned Teutonic titans, and Megadeth.

Here are some other albums you might also enjoy:

Def Leppard – Volume Two Box Set

Prince – Originals

Memoriam – Requiem For Mankind

Collective Soul – Blood

The Raconteurs – Help Us Stranger

Lars Eric Mattsson – Into The Unknown

(Hed) P.E. – Stampede

Drivn N Cryin – Live the Love Beautiful

Apocalyptica – Live At Dynamo Open Air 1999

Black Label Society – Live At Dynamo Open Air 1999

Accept – Metal Heart Vinyl

Dog Fashion Disco – Committed To A Bright Future Re-Recorded

Electric Frankenstein – How To Make A Monster 20th Anniversary Edition

Fever 333 – Strength in Numb333rs Pink Vinyl

Ministry – The Land Of Rape And Honey Vinyl

Silverchair – Frogstomp Vinyl

Article by Victor M. Ruiz of Mars Attacks Radio & Podcast, and Galaxy Of Geeks Podcast.  Connect with him on Twitter:  @vmr907