Zandelle - Photos from Club Europa, Brooklyn, NY 8-28-09

I lost track of Zandelle after L'Amours (in Brooklyn) closed but I probably saw the band over a dozen times during L'Amour's final run in Bensonhurst ('99 - '04).

Time has been good to Zandelle and the band has gotten better with age. The band's sound hasn't changed much over the years and they are still playing epic power metal. What has changed though is the band's lineup (yet again) and this appears to be for the better as both the band's song writing and live show have gotten tighter.



Earlier this year, Zandelle signed with the German label Pure Steel Records and released their third disc, Flames of Rage, this past June. Many reviewers are calling this new disc Zandelle's best to-date.



Links:
Zandelle's MySpace Profile

Ross the Boss - Autograph Session and Meet n' Greet Tomorrow Night at Duff's (Manowar/The Dictators)

Guitarist Ross The Boss will be at Duff's in Brooklyn tomorrow night for a special meet n' greet/autograph signing.

The long-time guitarist for The Dictators and Manowar released his first solo CD New Metal Leader (Candlelight Records) earlier this year. Ross' new band will be making their US debut with a show at Club Europa on August 28th.

The signing runs from 10PM - Midnight tomorrow night. Duff's is located at 168 Marcy Avenue in Williamsburg.



Links:
Ross The Boss' MySpace Profile

Ross The Boss - New Metal Leader CD Review (Candlelight Records)

After exiting Manowar over twenty years ago, Ross the Boss' first solo CD, New Metal Leader, is a return to the epic power-metal sounds of his past work.

Ross' solo band came about when he played "A Night of Early Manowar" at the Keep It True IV Festival in Germany backed by Manowar cover band Men Of War. Ross ended up taking Men Of War under his wing as the Ross the Boss band.

Ross the Boss - Keep It True Festival

In an interview with Stalker, Ross said "I realized they were special the first time we rehearsed. They´re schooled musicians with deep respect for me and the music. Before playing the Keep It True Festival for the second time, we stepped into Tarek´s studio and laid down tracks for "I Got The Right" and "We Will Kill." The next step was to see if Patrick could write lyrics for the songs. When the songs were finished, I knew I had a band and I never wanted to play another Manowar song again. I never wanted to be an "oldies guy" who paid tribute to himself. Playing Manowar songs with a tribute band was cheesy, but fun. We got great offers and made a lot of new contacts and friends; however, we knew we weren´t going to do it for long."

New Metal Leader isn't quite Manowar's Kings of Metal but it is pretty darn close. The disc's 11 tracks are pretty much all melodic anthems that are sure to get fists pumping in the air. Vocalist Patrick Fuchs doesn't have the road-worn sound of Manowar vocalist Eric Adams but, if you look at Ross' quote above, he wasn't trying to form a Manowar cover band. Patrick has a great voice for this genre of music.

"Blood of Knives" is the first full track on the disc (after the epic metal guitar-driven opener) and is pretty indicative of what the rest of the disc sounds like.


Find more videos like this on Ross The Boss Network

The band stays in this power metal groove for most of the disc but there are a few diversions into the metal ballad territory ("God of Dying") that I associate with The Scorpions and "May the Gods Be With You" is the sort of radio-friendly rock song that Kiss was writing in the early 90's.

Both fans of power metal and early Manowar should enjoy this disc.

Links:
Ross the Boss' MySpace Profile
Ross the Boss' Website

Brooklyn Metal Fest Warmup Party Tomorrow Night at Duff's in Williamsburg

There are all kinds of cool events going on this month...

Tomorrow night at Duff's, some of the bands playing the metal fest will be hanging out (Ross the Boss will be there), there will be free BBQ and two-day tickets to the show will be selling for $15 ($5 off regular price). What more do you need...


Links:
Duff's Webiste (link)