Sanctuary / Praying Mantis (2009)

1. In Time

2. Restless Heart

3. Tears In The Rain

4. So High

5. Turn The Tide

6. Touch The Rainbow

7. Threshold Of A Dream

8. Playing God

9. Highway

10. Sanctuary

It has been 6 years from the last album and 9 years since they had a permanent vocal. First, the album jacket freaked me out a little bit. The album jacket often represent the music inside. I was afraid that their music style had changed in negative way. However, when I started listening to this album, I soon realized that my fear was utterly groundless. From track 1, their lyrical sound was still going strong. It seems like new members have career for decent amount of years but pretty much are unknown. The new voice of the band, Mike Freeland, has gruff voice but really matches with the band sound. 

This band is one of few bands that had member changes so many times. Nevertheless, Troy brothers keep the faith in their music. This time, they proved once again that they are the key and the core of this band. From track 1, their lyrical sounds explode. Tracks 2 and 9 are good pop tunes. Track 4 is a moving ballad. Perhaps, this might be the best ballad they have ever written since "Lovers To The Graves". They also wrote great uptempo tunes such as tracks 4, 6, and 7. Overall, the album is full of Praying Mantis emblems. I hope that they release new records more often lol

☆☆☆☆

Sonic Boom / KISS (2009)

1. Modern Day Delilah

2. Russian Roulette

3. Never Enough

4. Yes I Know (Nobody's Perfect)

5. Stand

6. Hot And Cold

7. All For The Glory

8. Danger Us

9. I'm An Animal

10. When Lightning Strikes

11. Say Yeah

Many people questioned when they heard that KISS was releasing a new album how the album would be. As we all know, Ace and Peter had left the band, and Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, who was previously in the band, joined the band. The brain of the band, Paul and Gene, remained. They toured around the world and showed everyone how tight the band was with those two new members. However, many people asked if they could make another KISS record without Peter and Ace.

The answer is that they came back strong with a great KISS album. From the track 1, they play KISS style rock 'n' roll throughout the album. Cool riffs, catchy chorus, great harmony, unique voices, this is KISS. Tommy and Eric are great musicians. Even though they are great technicians, they kept themselves to be a part of four pieces. Surprisingly, my favorite song in this album is track 7 which is sung by Eric Singer. His voice is different from Peter's, but it really matches well with the band. I felt the same when I first listened to him singing "Black Diamond." Tommy did a great job with track 10 as well.

KISS truly showed that they could still kick everyone's bud. In this period of their career, they created a great album. I don't know if people would considered this album comparable to their past catalogues, but this album is pure KISS album with 100% awesome rock 'n' roll songs.

☆☆☆☆

Can't Slow Down / Foreigner (2009)

1. Can't Slow Down

2. In Pieces

3. When It Comes to Love

4. Living In a Dream

5. I Can't Give Up

6. Ready

7. Give Me a Sign

8. I'll Be Home Tonight

9. Too Late

10. Lonely

11. As Long As I Live

12. Angel Tonight

13. Fool For You Anyway

Many bands from 70's and 80's returned since late 90's, yet most of them failed to created albums and songs that could meet their fans' expectation. They just play greatest hits tour and are being nostalgic. However, Foreigner, the band that had only one original member, added another record in their catalogue that was comparable with their albums in 70's and 80's. To be honest, I did not expect much from this album. Nevertheless, I have to admit that I was so wrong. This is a perfect album to follow "Inside Information".

Kelly Hansen is a great singer, and his voice really matches with this band. He was perfect to reproduce their old songs at concerts. But, I did not realize how compelling his voice is until actually listening him singing new songs. Since Lou Gramm cannot sing like he did before, Kelly Hansen is a perfect fit for the band.

I was really surprised that the band, perhaps I should say Mick Jone, did not lose its sound. Even with modern sound production, each song has "Foreigner" mark on it. Melody, guitar riffs, keyboard, saxophone, everything just reminds me of 70's and 80's. This album will not disappoint both old and new fans. This band has not retired as composers or musicians yet.

☆☆☆☆☆

Endgame / Megadeth (2009)

1. Dialectic Chaos

2. This Day We Fight!

3. 44 Minutes

4. 1,320'

5. Bite The Hand

6. Bodies

7. Endgame

8. The Hardest Part Of Letting Go...Sealed With A Kiss

9. Head Crusher

10. How The Story Ends

11. The Right To Go Insane

Since his return to the scene, Dave Mustaine maintained his high composition skill and released two high quality album. He released once again a great record. "The System Has Failed" was very melodic, and "United Abominations" had universal appeal to heavy metal music. But, as a fan of their early music, those two albums were also little settled. At the beginning of his career, Megadeth had a lot of aggression. Of course, he is no longer a man of anger. He settled everything with Metallica and became a Christian. But, did he really lose the sharp edge he once had? Well, this album was a happy surprise for me. He showed the he still had strong sharp edge, and the album is full of great riffs. I personally felt that this album has the mood of "Rust In Peace" and "Countdown To Extinction". 

From the instrumental number, track 1, the band shows full of aggression and power in track 2. Track 4 is another great song that reminds me of the time this band was called "Intellectual Thrash Metal". Out of many great metal tunes, track 9, which was released as a single, is very outstanding. The song progresses with riff and riff and riff. Megadeth music was very progressive in their early career but not long as many progressive rock/metal bands. Tracks 3. 5, 6, 7, and 10 would nicely fit in "Countdown To Extinction". These songs has not only good riffs but also hook in vocal lines. Track 8 is another excellent piece in this album. It is very dramatic and became one of climax in this album. Track 11 is another typical Megadeth song. You would think this is just a mid-tempo song at the beginning, but at the end, the song actually goes insane as the lyrics sing.

Overall, this album became more exciting than past two records. If you are a fan of early songs of this band. Please go and get this album. It won't disappoint you.

☆☆☆☆☆

Leave This Town / Daughtry (2009)

1. You Don't Belong

2. No Surprise

3. Every Time You Turn Around

4. Life After You

5. What I Meant to Say

6. Open Up Your Eyes

7. September

8. Ghost of Me

9. Learn My Lesson

10. Supernatural

11. Tennessee Line

12. Call Your Name

13. What Have We Become (Bonus Track)

14. One the Inside (Bonus Track)

One of few true success from "American Idol", Daughtry's second album was a long-awaited one for all of his fans. In the first album, he proved that he was not just an "idol" but a great rock musician and singer. His first album won multiple platinum in the U.S. and sold more than 7 million copies around the world. His vocal is very powerful and sometimes really emotional and won many people's heart. Instead of performing as a solo musician, he decided to form a band. In this second album, we can tell that the band became tight and working better as a team after a long tour. 

I was a bit surprised with the heavy number, track 1. It  But, it has good riffs and cool chorus. Track 2 was a long hit on radio and played every single day. The last album had good melody, catchy chorus, and hook in vocal lines. Nevertheless, this album surpass way above that. Unfortunately, the album received many negative reviews from critics, but I still say with confidence that this album is great. Track 4, the second single is very catchy yet has bit sad mood. Track 6 is a moving number with sad minor melody. Track 7, the second single, is a warm acoustic ballad. However, above all of them, track 8 is a killer tune. The song is very dramatic yet rock really hard at the same time. Chris's vocal really stands out in this kind of song. I had some impression that they put more ballads than last time. But, each one of them has really high quality. Particularly towards the end, it is very dramatic. Tracks 9, 11, and 12 are very different from each other, yet every one of them is a great song.

When an artist has a successful album, the second album is very challenging. Often, people fail to deliver what fans are expecting and disappear from the scene. Daughtry released another great album and their future career will be secured for next several years.

☆☆☆☆☆

Everyday Demons / The Answer (2009)

1. Demon Eyes

2. Too Far Gone

3. On and On

4. Cry Out

5. Why'd You Change Your Mind

6. Pride

7. Walkin' Mat

8. Tonight

9. Dead of the Night

10. Comfort Zone

11. Evil Man

12. Revolution

13. Lost

Their first album "Rise" was shocking. Of course, that was a good shock. People often say that Rock music has changed. That depends on how you define rock music. Rock music always has and will keep changing. I guess that sentence is often said by classic rock fans. I am also a classic rock fan. I listen to some of recent rock musicians as well, but my favorite kind of rock music is from late 60's to 70's. If you are a kind of person like me, you have to check this band. This blues-based hard rock band is what you have been looking for. Their first album was awesome, but this album won overall quality of songs. It was really easy for me to listen to the whole album without losing tension. 

Recently, classic rock revival movement is going on around world. Bands such as Rival Sons, Airbourne, The Darkness, and Sons Of Merrick are representatives. They are really nostalgic for old fans and very fresh for younger fans. Unfortunately, not many of those new classic rock (I know it is really weird to say, but I cannot think of any other ways to express) has big commercial success. I hope they would get more credit because the rock scene really needs this kind of bands.

Let's go back to the album. I could tell from their first album that they were all great musicians. This record is full of good riffs and melody. I think the album is catchier than the first. They put 13 songs in this album, but none of them was junk. Dear classic rock fans, please note that there are still good bands that play classic influenced rock music, and they are great live acts too!!

☆☆☆☆☆