Bassinvaders: Hellbassbeaters
You would not be blamed for reacting in horror to the title and concept of this album. A bunch of bassists — Billy Sheehan (Steve Vai, Mr. Big, David Lee Roth), Rudy Sarzo (Dio, Ozzy Osbourne, Whitesnake, Quiet Riot), Lee Rocker (Stray Cats), Marco Mendoza (Thin Lizzy, Whitesnake, Ted Nugent), DD Verni (Overkill), Wyzard (Mothers Finest), Dirk Schlchter (Gamma Ray), Joey Vera (Armored Saint, Fates Warning, Anthrax), Stig Pedersen (D.A.D), Nibbs (Saxon), Tobias Exxel (Edguy), Jens Becker (Grave Digger, Running Wild), Dennis Ward (Pink Cream 69), Peter Baltes (Accept), Jan S. Eckert (Masterplan), and Michael Miller (Jaded Heart) — lead by Helloween's four-stringer Markus Grosskopfs, releasing an album of bass-centric music.
Well this isn't a bass instrumental album, the equivalent of the shred albums on Shrapnel back in the day. Instead this is a decent collection of proper songs of the heavy rock variety, including a Helloween cover "Eagle Fly Free". Toss in Firewind's vocalist Apollo Papathanasio and the lead singer of D.A.D. My feelings of dread and trepidation were unwarranted. While its not essential, it's a suitably enjoyable album that is full of a bunch of mates having a good time. It is rather heavy on the bass it has to be said.
Well it's beginning of chemo for me next week. Got my chemo line in ready and I'm to go. Not exactly the type of “plugging in” I had in mind for this year but oh well. Fortunately, I still have a nice raft of CDs to review.
As always stay safe and make sure you find time to check out live music whenever and where ever you can.
Article comments
1 - The TuneFreak
Marty-I'm a HUGE Porcupine Tree fan and had never checked out Blackfield, but I'm gonna grab both disc's-thanks for selling me on 'em. Good Luck with the chemo-hang tough and NEVER give up...
P's,
Mike