Album Review, Randy Chapman: All Men Are Created Evil

Once again, guitar wizard, Randy Chapman has gone into the studio and knocked out a full length album all by himself. It doesn't happen very often, and when it does happen, its rarely anything spectacular. Randy has knocked the ball out of the park.

I have the honor to once again review the new album from my friend, Randy Chapman. His new album, All Men Are Created Evil is coming out next month. This new one is his best sounding one yet. Its well produced, and has dark energy. It rocks hard, and is powerful. His greatness as a musician and song writer is very much on display.

It starts off with Good Mourning (Not Dead Yet) which is a fast driving punkish anthem that breaks the bad news to a person's rivals. "I'm not done thwarting you yet!" The next two songs, Soul Stealer and Skeletons in the Closet are slow but heavy grooves that creep up on you and plow into your psyche and won't let go.

Candle in the Dark is a great ballad that has the feeling and emotion you'd expect from a ballad done by a heavy metal master like Randy. Its guitar is deep and soulful and the guitar solo is sweet. His vocals mesh with the song perfectly,

But, you aren't going to be let off the hook for long. Black Widow is a brutal assault on the senses, and I think it may be about my ex wife. Good Die Young is a mixture of heavy and acoustic. Its chorus taunts you, and the guitar solo comes in for its own session of ass kicking. In keeping with the theme of Black Widow, Disposable Girl comes in with harsh guitar and harsher words for women that are living with their heads in the clouds, thinking everyone owes them something. We've all had one or two of them, right? It really says what we'd all love to say to women like that.

Randy Chapman

Randy really pulls out all the stops on the album. August Moon is a classical guitar instrumental that sets the mood for the next song, Spellbound. An upbeat ballad that hits hard, and deals with an obsessive relationship. The Devil Made Me Do It continues with the slow and dark mood, but knocks it down an octave. It starts with an ominous deep acoustic track, with Randy's vocals as a deep growl. That leads into Sweet Addiction, which starts with a minor scale acoustic intro, then blasts into a heavy riff, then back into the acoustic. Its a creepy song about the demons people face with addiction.

I saved Haunted for last. Its the only song on the album that isn't 100% Randy Chapman. It also features the guest vocals of the lovely Laura Moore, who also sang Ghost on Randy's previous album, Cursed.  Like Ghost, this is a cheerful and pretty song...A change of pace for Randy, but its every bit as good as the darker tunes on the album. Laura sings like a songbird in this tune, and she shows why Randy invited her back to record again. Randy sings a verse, then Laura sings one, then they sing the chorus together in harmony,

Laura Moore

This album is a little less heavy and a little more gritty than Randy's previous albums, and when I say gritty, I mean that there are more songs with creepy overtones, and slow crunching licks. Its a must have for any guitar enthusiast because most would aspire to be as good as Randy. Its found a spot on my cell phone, that's for sure.

So, pick it up when it comes out around the first couple weeks of November. There aren't any purchase links at this point, but follow Randy's social media for updates:

Facebook: RChapman

Twitter: @Rrcha2550123

Soundcloud: Randy Chapman

ReverbNation: RandyDChapman

Album Review- Chastain: We Bleed Metal

"We will sacrifice and we will pay 

the price cause WE BLEED METAL!"  

David T Chastain, a guitar shredder who took the metal scene by storm in the 80's, along with Leather Leone, one of the pioneers of the female fronted power metal band format is back with the band's second release in 2 years. Chastain's new album, We Bleed Metal is an all out assault on the senses, and the band makes no apology for doing what needs to be done, especially in this day and age, which is to punch you in the stomach with everything power metal brings to the table, which is blistering and heavy guitar licks and solos, colossal bass and drums, intricate musical scoring, and piercing and powerful vocals.

This is the sixth Chastain album with Leather Leone on vocals. The first four, and the 2013 released Surrender to No One, and of course this new metal masterpiece, We Bleed Metal. In fact, three of the four members are original members. David T Chastain on guitars, Leather Leone on vocals, Mike Skimmerhorn on bass, and new arrival, Stian Kristofferson on drums. And, they deliver in a big way. 

We Bleed Metal is not a return to classic form. Its of course, the musical genius that everyone expects from a guitar god, but its also modern, meaning that a tour with a band like Disturbed would be a good fit. Although the younger fans of the new band would walk away with an education on how metal is supposed to be. I think they'd dig it too!

Every song on this album is brutal. The drums sound like bombs going off, with thundering double bass. Specifically in track 7, Evolution of Terror. Play this song loudly in the Middle East, and ISIS terrorists would surrender immediately. They would think they were being carpet bombed by invisible bombs, and with Leather's voice on top of it, they would learn to fear women really fast. 

The guitar work, what can I say? It SHREDS. David T Chastain deserves to be (and is) in the same paragraph with greats such as Paul Gilbert, Yngwie Malmsteen, Marty Friedman, etc. His ability is on full display on every track. Whether blazing fast, slowly crunching, or acoustic, Chastain puts on a guitar clinic. For example, track 6, I Am A Warrior starts off with a classic 12 string acoustic intro, then slams into an audio blitzkrieg. Track 8, The Last Ones Alive does the same, although Leather sings over the acoustic intro, and she leads us into the song with a powerful note when the assault begins.

Speaking of Leather Leone's voice, its powerful, gritty, dirty, and high. She has an incredible voice. I mentioned earlier that she was one of the pioneers of female fronted power metal. It was people like she and Doro Pesch of Warlock who first proved that women could get up there and scream with the best of the men of the era. They paved the way for the many female fronted power metal and progressive bands that are popular today.

The lyrics on We Bleed Metal are dark, and relevant to the woes of today's society as it spirals down the toilet faster and faster as the weeks go by. Songs about the collapse of the financial system, religious fanatics, war, and all out apocalypse. The only thing different than what 80's bands wrote about and what these lyrics are about is that now, the tragic and terrifying things are actually happening. It gives you a chill when you think about it. If the Doomsday Clock was at 2 Minutes 2 Midnight in the mid 80's, we must be about 15 seconds to midnight with all the garbage happening in the world now. 

Stian Kristofferson, Leather Leone, Mike Skimmerhorn, David T Chastain

This album delivers on all fronts. It is a dictionary perfect representation of what a power metal album should be. Guitarists and all musicians will love this. The rhythm section of the bass and drums has the power of a battering ram, and the guitar is spectacular. The vocals are perfect, as Leather Leone still has all the power in her voice that she had in the 80's. She hasn't lost a single note from her range. In fact, she may have added a couple. David T Chastain has said that this may be his most "Shredtastic" album since the late 80's, and that is saying a lot. 

Wrapping up, the title track, We Bleed Metal is a heavy metal anthem that speaks about the brotherhood of metalheads. It speaks about society's stigma towards metal, and how we as metalheads struggle with it day to day. But, in the end, there are no fans of any other genre of music that are as deeply passionate about it as metal fans are. Its true. We all really do bleed metal. I've said it a million times that if Mozart, Beethoven, Bach, all the other classical music composers were alive today, they would be metal musicians. And, they would likely be good friends with David T Chastain.

The album releases on November 6, 2015. So, be watching out for it on Amazon, Google Play, or wherever you buy your music. 

Also, don't miss it. Leather Leone will be on the Will and Thunder Show as our guest on Tuesday, November 3, 2015 at 9PM Eastern. Click here for the listen link.

Album Review: Randy Chapman "Cursed"

Its not very often when you have one person who can go into a studio and knock out an album with 13 well produced songs, playing all guitar, bass, drums, keyboards, writing everything, and singing. But, Central Florida guitar icon, Randy Chapman has done just that...Several times in fact.

His current album, Cursed explores the darkness and void associated with someone who is struggling with the consequences of his decisions earlier in life. Something I personally know well, and can relate to. Songs like 'My Own Worst Enemy'  spell that out perfectly, when he says point blank that he has become his.

Lyrically, Cursed is a trip down a dark path that would give Alice Cooper the creeps. Musically, it is a to manual on metal guitar. Shallow is a musical assault, grabs you by the throat, early on. Most of the album is a clinic on what young metal guitarists should aspire to be with their skill in rhythm and leads. But, you also get some great classical guitar. Immortal Beloved, is a relaxing interlude. A beacon on a stormy night, after Devil in Disguise which is a lashing to the religious zealots who want to tell you how to live, but not to pattern your life after theirs.

Randy Chapman

Basically, if you're a fan of the guitar, this album is for you. The guitar work here could be mentioned in the same sentence with greats like Zakk Wylde, among others. Most prevalent are the influences of people like Wylde, and bands like Judas Priest and Megadeth. The skill of Chapman is impressive whether the music is fast or slow.

I mentioned the lyrics. Chapman is every bit as good with a pen as he is with a pic. His imagery is very good, and if you pay attention, you will be a guest on this dark path along with him. Harvester of Souls is a good soundtrack for that walk. He is ready to take you away. But, make sure someone gives you a couple coins to put over your eyes. He doesn't ride for free. The song invokes memories of early Black Sabbath, both musically and lyrically. Not sure where he got the inspiration for the song, October Rust. He lives in Florida, yet this song brilliantly illustrates the changing of seasons into Fall. But, it contrasts with a story about waiting in vain for someone who will never come. But the most impressive is the lyrics of Till Death Do Us Part. A song about a man who lost his wife, and the pain he is enduring.

Laura Moore in the
studio

He also shows a bit of a soft side with a (musically) cheerful song called Ghost. Its a duet with a gorgeous young lady with the voice of an angel voice named Laura Moore. Hopefully, I'll be reviewing an album from her soon. Ghost is a strange and beautiful departure from the darkness of the rest of the album, yet it is still kind of lyrically dark.

I had the privilege of interviewing Randy on the Will and Thunder Show <Caching!> a while back. Check it out! 

Of course, the album cover has a black cat on it. and the album is called 'Cursed.' But, did you notice the other thing? There are 13 songs on this CD.

Unless you're completely dense, you should be able to see that I am very impressed with this album. It needs to be in your collection. Buy it on Amazon. Now.