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Week Ending:
3 August 2024

Album Of The Week

TheBigBlack

Live Line

The Angels - Live Line (1987)

[Hard Rock]

In everyday life we all primarily listen to studio versions of songs, but a band's ability and reputation to hold a crowd at a live show is really what makes or breaks them. Some band build a massive reputation on the live circuit, and many Aussie stalemates proved themselves in the pubs long before they were put on a record. The Angels were one of these bands, and even over a decade and a half into their career Live Line proved that they could still cut it against even the toughest audience. What makes a great live record is the combination of many things - the songs selected, the quality of the performance, the recording quality - but above all else, it has to give the listener the feeling of being there. If you close your eyes, do you feel like you are in the crowd, shoulder to shoulder with other fans bouncing in time to the beat. Live Line does this effortlessly, with performances culled from four different shows ranging from 1981 to 1987, stitched together to form a single cohesive 'concert'. Tracks from the most recent show from March 1987 bristle with electric energy, as the band tear through songs from their current album Howling with focused intent and enjoyment. As good as the performances are though, the stars of the album are undoubtably the tracks from the Narara Music Festival in January 1983. To this day, still one of the biggest Australian music festivals of all time (with a line-up featuring Choirboys, Divinyls, The Church, INXS, Moving Pictures, Australian Crawl, Men At Work, Rose Tattoo, Cold Chisel and many many more), frontman Doc Neeson announced to the band it would be his final performance and beneath a blood-red moon the band played a show like a bunch of men possessed. The songs from that performance carry that energy to the listener perfectly. Needless to say, the band did carry on after that show. From the massive sing-along choruses of 'After The Rain' and 'Comin' Down' to the subtle acoustic performances of 'Love Takes Care' and 'Be With You' even song is played with care and precision, and also the key ingredient in any Angels performance - personality. Neeson makes every show unique with his between song banter and barnstorming vocals on songs 'Like For The Shelter' and 'Face The Day'. And of course, no Angels live album can be complete without the usual audience participation on 'Am I Ever Gonna See Your Face Again?'. Some live albums are just a product of their time and are quickly forgotten by next studio album, whereas some stand up so well on their own that they become an absolutely critical part of a band's discography. Live Line sits firmly in the latter category.

Artists: New Additions

These are new artists added this week.

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Category 7

Thrash Metal

Category 7 is an American heavy metal supergroup formed in 2023. Its lineup features Armored Saint and former Anthrax frontman John Bush, Kerry King sideman and former Machine Head guitarist Phil Demmel, Adrenaline Mob guitarist Mike Orlando, Exodus bassist Jack Gibson, and Overkill and Shadows Fall drummer Jason Bittner.

Wraith

Speed Metal

Wraith is a self-proclaimed no bullshit speed & thrash metal from Indiana, United States, formed in 2016.

Members: New Additions

These are new members added this week.

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King Diamond

Heavy Metal

Kim Bendix Petersen (born 14 June 1956), better known by his stage name King Diamond, is a Danish rock musician. As a vocalist, he is known for his powerful and wide-ranging countertenor singing voice, in particular his far-reaching falsetto screams. He is the lead vocalist and lyricist for both Mercyful Fate and the band King Diamond. He also plays keyboards and guitars on studio recordings but uses live shows to focus solely on his vocal performance. Diamond is renowned for his dark lyrical content and his story concepts. He is also known for his distinctive shock stage persona (in particular his black and white face paint). He has been an influence for other rock and metal artists, including Metallica, Slayer and Cradle Of Filth.

Scott Stapp

Alternative Rock

Anthony Scott Flippen (born August 8, 1973) is an American singer and the lead vocalist and lyricist of the rock band Creed. He has also fronted the band Art Of Anarchy and has released a number of solo albums. In 2006, Hit Parader ranked Stapp as the 68th-greatest heavy metal vocalist.

Labels: New Additions

These are new labels added this week.

Click on any images below to see labels details.

Napalm Records

Napalm Records is an Austrian independent record label focused on heavy metal, hard rock and folk metal. Originally, Napalm focused on black metal bands, such as Abigor and Summoning, and folk metal bands, such as Falkenbach and Vintersorg. The label later expanded its roster by adding gothic metal, symphonic metal, power metal, doom metal, metalcore and nu metal bands, as well as stoner rock acts Monster Magnet, Karma To Burn, and Brant Bjork, and even folk bands like Ye Banished Privateers. Napalm has its own publishing house named Iron Avantgarde Publishing. In November 2020, Napalm acquired the German record label SPV GmbH.

Noise International

Noise Records is a German heavy metal record label founded in 1983 by German music industry personality Karl-Ulrich Walterbach as an expansion of his company Modern Music Records. It was sold to the Sanctuary Records Group in 2001 and ceased any activity in 2007 due to the bankruptcy of Sanctuary. The Noise catalogue was consequently acquired by Universal Music Group later on. In April 2016, BMG Rights Management, which had acquired Sanctuary Records in 2013, announced that it would revive the Noise Records label.

Locations: New Additions

These are new locations added this week.

There are no new additions this week.

Core Discographies: New Additions

These are new releases available in the Core Discographies this week.

Core Discographies Links: New Additions | New Releases | Coming Soon | Themes

Remember, Core Discographies accepts Requests. Click HERE to request your favourite album to be included.

Click on any links below to see release details.

MP3

FLAC

Category 7
Category 7

[Album]
26 July 2024
Thrash Metal

'Category 7' is the debut studio album by Category 7.

MP3

FLAC

The Eternal
Skinwalker

[Album]
28 June 2024
Groove Metal

'Skinwalker' is the seventh studio album by The Eternal.

MP3

FLAC

Wraith
Fueled By Fear

[Album]
28 June 2024
Speed Metal

[Album]
5 November 2013
Post-Grunge Rock

'Proof Of Life' is the second solo album by Scott Stapp. "This is the most meaningful record of my career," said Stapp. "I've made a lot of messes in my life but I've learned I can take a mess and turn it into a message. This album chronicles my struggles, my journey and it's the most honest record I have ever written."

MP3

FLAC

Sarke
Oldarhian

[Album]
15 April 2011
Black Metal

'Oldarhian' is the second studio album by Sarke.

MP3

FLAC

Sarke
Endo Feight

[Album]
15 April 2011
Black Metal

'Oldarhian' is the eigth studio album by Sarke.

MP3

FLAC

King Diamond
Give Me Your Soul... Please

[Album]
26 June 2007
Heavy Metal

'Give Me Your Soul... Please' is the twelfth studio album by King Diamond. The album's concept and cover art are both based on a painting titled "My Mother's Eyes". This was the last album to feature bassist Hal Patino, who was fired from the band in 2014.

MP3

FLAC

King Diamond
The Puppet Master

[Album]
21 October 2003
Heavy Metal

'The Puppet Master' is the eleventh studio album by King Diamond. It is a concept album with a storyline telling the tale of a young couple who go to watch a puppet show in Budapest in the 1700s, and end up being turned into undead puppets by the Puppet Master and his wife.

MP3

FLAC

King Diamond
Abigail II, The Revenge

[Album]
28 January 2002
Heavy Metal

'Abigail II, The Revenge' is the tenth studio album by King Diamond. It is a concept album that continues the plot of the 1987 album 'Abigail'. It is the band's first album to feature guitarist Mike Wead, drummer Matt Thompson, and the first to feature bassist Hal Patino since 'The Eye' (1990).

MP3

FLAC

Various Artists
Darkthrone, Holy Darkthrone (Eight Norwegian Bands Paying Tribute)

[Compilation Album]
?? January 1998
Black Metal

'Darkthrone, Holy Darkthrone (Eight Norwegian Bands Paying Tribute)' is a tribute album to Darkthrone. It features contributions from other leading Norwegian black metal bands, and was released to mark the band's 10th anniversary.

MP3

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Various Artists
Home Alive, The Art Of Self Defense

[Compilation Album]
20 February 1996
-Various-

'Home Alive, The Art Of Self Defense' is a compilation album by various artists. The album includes songs of empowerment, self-awareness, and experiences with violence, and all proceeds went to the Home Alive Foundation in Seattle.

MP3

FLAC

Various Artists
Nordic Metal, A Tribute To Euronymous

[Compilation Album]
?? ?? 1995
Black Metal

'Nordic Metal, A Tribute To Euronymous' is a compilation album by various artists. Although work on the compilation had already begun before the death of Euronymous, the album was not completed until a year after his murder.

MP3

FLAC

Dimmu Borgir
For All Tid [For All Time]

[Album]
?? February 1995
Black Metal (Symphonic)

[Album]
1986
Heavy Metal

'Fatal Portrait' is the debut album by King Diamond. Guitarist Andy LaRocque joined the album recording sessions at the last minute, as the band's second guitarist at the time wasn't working out in the studio. As a result, it is the only King Diamond album which does not feature any writing credits from LaRocque. Recording a solo for "Dressed In White" functioned as his audition for joining the band. Along with 'The Spider's Lullabye' (1995), it is one of the band's only albums which is not a whole concept album.