DEVOID "Cup Of Tears"

(c) 2017 Melodic Rock Records

1. Soldiers
2. Otherworld
3. Collective Heart
4. The Clock Is Ticking
5. Killing Hands
6. Religion
7. Agony
8. Final Breath
9. Colours Fade To Grey
10. Mind Keeper
11. Cup Of Tears
12. Hollow Point

Carsten "Lizard" Schulz--Lead Vocals

Shad Mae--Guitars

Jorris Guilbaud--Keyboards

Ben Toquet--Bass

Ben Wanders--Drums

Additional Musicians

Mattias IA Eklundh (Freak Kitchen)--Guitars

Henrik Danhage (Evergrey)--Guitars

Daniel Palmqvist (Beyond The Katacomb)--Guitars

Magnus Karlsson (Primal Fear)--Guitars

When I first got into hard rock and metal, I was constantly seeking out bands that no one else was listening to.  I would order demos and independent releases out of the back of magazines from bands, trade dubbed cassettes with friends, and buy anything from the small opening bands at the shows I would go to, just to have more!  When I got older, the internet made it easier...MUCH easier...to track down music that none of my friends were listening to, especially from bands in Europe, where metal was continuing to thrive even as grunge and alternative rock dominated the American landscape.  And while a lot of my friends were also discovering the great bands from Great Britain and Germany, I was focusing on finding bands from places like Norway, Italy, and most notably, France, where I found several bands that I had never heard of but instantly took a liking to.

Now that the world has shrunk even further with social media, bands now contact me to have their music featured and reviewed here.  And, wouldn't you know it, one of the most exciting releases I have heard in quite some time comes from...France!

Devoid is a melodic metal band that literally brought a smile to my face and goosebumps to my arms when I first played Cup Of Tears.  This...THIS...is what melodic metal should sound like, in my opinion.  Not since Balance Of Power, Magnitude 9, or Theocracy do I remember putting in a melodic metal CD...be it power metal, prog metal, or traditional metal...and having it just absolutely grab me the way Cup Of Tears did.  I have heard a lot of melodic hard rock albums over the past several years that have been incredible, but melodic metal albums seem to miss the mark much of the time.  Not so here, as Cup Of Tears manages to find that perfect balance between technical finesse and artistic flair, between insanely fast-yet-precise guitars and intricate-and-interesting keyboards, between break-neck, pulse-pounding bass and drum work and more subtle, more emotive fill work.  Heavier, faster, and more metallic than their highly talented label-mates, Fiction Syxx, Devoid combines both power metal and progressive metal elements on an album that most certainly would have made the Glitter2Gutter Top 17 of 2017 had it crossed my desk earlier.  However, it wasn't until January 6 of this year that guitarist, Shad Mae, contacted me and asked me to review this masterpiece of an album.  So, in retrospect, I have gone back and included the album in the "honorable mention" section, despite the fact that there is no doubt it would have made the Top Ten...heck, most likely the Top Five...had I just been able to hear it earlier.  Honestly, it is that good!

Highlights of the album for me would definitely be the insanely intricate and catchy "Religion", which features an absolutely stunning guitar solo and some darker, edgier vocals from Lizard, whom I find to be a particularly strong singer with a rather large range.  The album's opener, "Soldiers" really sets a nice tone for the record with its heft and punch, and the instrumental, "Hollow Point", really gives Mae a chance to show off his prowess on the guitar.  I also really like "Collective Heart", which perfectly combines the heavy crunchiness of "Soldiers" with a big, layered, melodic chorus that just screams catchy!  "Clock Is Ticking" is probably the most progressive track here...proggy in the early Queensryche or Fates Warning style...and the riffy "Colours Fade To Grey" has grabbed my attention since the first time I played the album...but then again, so has "Mindkeeper", which is a heavy, guitar-driven track with a really cool hook and memorable chorus.  However, since one of the main strengths of the album, as a whole, is its songwriting, it is very difficult for me to point to just one or two specific songs and say, "Those are the best!", because there is nothing here even close to filler or throw away. 

If I were forced to make a comparison between Devoid and some other band, it would be a bit tough.  At times, they remind me very much of Balance Of Power, while at other times, you can hear bits of Pink Cream 69, or perhaps even some Evergrey.  The guitars are a bit more technical here, I think, and the overall feel isn't quite as proggy as PC69 sounds at times.

I really don't know anything about the band's members, and I have no idea if this is a true "band" or a "project", but I think the combination of elements here is excellent.  Schulz is a very strong singer who is able to handle the most powerful tracks here, as well as the semi-ballads that pop up in a couple of places on Cup Of Tears.  The rhythm section is stunningly tight, and I am amazed at the talent of Wanders on the drums, who must be in some absolutely fantastic shape to play the rapid-fire tempos, patterns, and rhythms he plays throughout this record.  I was pleased that the keyboards here aren't too out front or AOR-ish, as I think that would have done some serious damage to a few of the tracks here.  Of course, it would be impossible to review this record without going on and on about the greatness of Mae on the guitars.  Whether its the acoustic work on "Final Breath", the Middle Eastern feel of "Hollow Point", or the numerous places throughout the album where he just screams across the frets, threatening to melt the strings.  I am seriously needing to seek out his work in other projects, as this guy is impressive.  I'll be seeking out Schulz's previous efforts, as well.

I was sent only a preview digital copy of the album, so I don't have any liner notes and I have no idea which guest guitarist plays on which songs.  When I get my CD, I will update this section of the review, as there are some solid guest names here, especially Karlsson.

The production on this album is excellent to my ears, as everything is very crisp and sharp, with no muddiness or over-powering by any particular instrument.  I have heard a few people say they don't think its mixed "metal enough", but I'm not really sure what they mean by that, as I love the mix here.  Again, Devoid is not a pure power metal band, nor are they a pure progressive metal band.  They lie somewhere in the middle, and they absolutely dominate this territory.  Here's hoping for a quick return from Shad Mae and Devoid, because there is nothing to not love about this record!

Rating:  The most crankable melodic metal album I have heard in some time!  9.5 for Cup Of Tears

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HOUSE OF LORDS "Saint Of The Lost Souls"

(c) 2017 Frontiers Records

1. Harlequin
2. Oceans Divide
3. Hit The Wall
4. Saint Of The Lost Souls
5. The Sun Will Never Set Again
6. New Day Breakin'
7. Reign Of Fire
8. Concussion
9. Art Of Letting Go
10. Grains Of Sand
11. The Other Option

James Christian--Lead Vocals, Keyboards

Jimi Bell--Guitars

BJ Zampa--Drums, Percussion

Chris Tristram--Bass

House Of Lords returns again with for what has turned out to be a nearly-annual appointment with the melodic hard rock world, with the 11th studio album...and third in 4 years...Saint Of The Lost Souls.  Following what I felt was a fairly lackluster album in 2015's Indestructible, and with the departure of long-time bassist Chris McCarvill, James Christian, Jimi Bell, and BJ Zampa regrouped with new bass player, Chris Tristram, and have put together quite possibly their best album since 2009's Cartesian Dreams.  

Indeed, it is a rare instance that a band maintains its style, its sound, its approach, and the great majority of its key players for a full decade.  House Of Lords, however, has managed to do even better than that, as Zampa and Bell have stood alongside Christian since 2005 and have produced seven albums that, even at their worst (the previously mentioned Indestructible and the largely maligned World Upside Down), are among some of the best melodic hard rock in the genre.  With this newest album, the band again proves why so many people point to House of Lords as the standard bearer for this type of hard rock.

The album starts with "Harlequin", which had me a bit concerned at the outset due to the plinky-plinky keyboards that were being used, but my fears were allayed about 1:30 into the track, as a maniacal laugh disrupts things and Bell's guitars come charging into the fray, bolstered by the always impressive drum work from Zampa.  It is nice that right off the bat, the impact of the bass from newcomer Tristram is felt, as sometimes bands have a way of overcompensating in other areas so that the "new guy" can get his feet wet.  Not here, as Tristram's bass is a definite impact player right here on the very first track.  Of course, the main draw for me is, and always has been, the supreme talent of James Christian.  His smooth-yet-slightly-raspy vocals have drawn me in since the band's debut nearly 30 years ago, and nothing has changed here.  An impressive solo from Bell is thrown into the mix for good measure, and it seems apparent from the get go that the band is out to make up for the last album...although I don't know that any member would indicate that they weren't fans of the last record.

"Oceans Divide" continues down the hard-rocking-yet-melodic path, with Christian actually lowering his range a bit more on the verse sections than I would say is typical, and it works very well.  A big, sweeping chorus, one of the HoL hallmarks, is present here, of course, and Bell again works his magic on some serious fret burning runs, and the rhythm section is, again, in fine form.

"Hit The Wall" betrays its name a bit, as this turns out to be the first slower, AOR-ish number on the record.  Ah, were this to have come out about 27 years ago, I have no doubts that it would have been a player for Top 40 attention, as this is such a smooth, perfectly performed mid-tempo track that it would have crossed over perfectly.  Bell offers up a truly inspired solo run between the last two choruses, and the catchy, sing-along chorus would have been on the lips of anyone who had snagged this album before going out to see the band live.  Just a great, great tune for a summer night...

Speaking of slower numbers, "The Sun Will Never Set Again" is one of those ballads that bands throw into the concert mix for the couples in the crowd.  You know the type...the ones that are so smooth and so chock-full of AOR sweetness that Zippo lighters seemingly spontaneously spring from their owner's pockets and burst into flame as Christian croons "the day will come, the day will come my friend, when this will end...and when my soul transcends, the sun will never set again..."  A nice mix of acoustic and electric guitars, a sing-song backing vocal section, and excellent, clean production add even more to this noteworthy tune that I am guessing will become a live staple for the band.

The rocking returns with "New Day Breaking" and "Reign Of Fire", with the latter track utilizing some of the harder-edged guitar tones the band has recorded in a several years.  Don't let that fool you into thinking this is some sort of metal turn by the band, however, as this is still pure melodic arena rock of the highest form, with some interesting keyboard moments mixed in with Bell's dominating work on guitar.

While on the subject of Bell's work, the shredding solo on the title track is one that simply must be heard, as it is a great piece of art on probably my favorite song of the record, even if the atmospheric keyboard intro takes a bit too long to bring the full band blistering into the mix.  Easily the fastest, hardest rocking track on the record, this is the type of song that I would absolutely LOVE to hear the band tackle for an entire record....okay, minus one of their big ballads.  True greatness here, my friends!

Concussion" is a bluesy, bump-and-grind styled rocker, which is pretty cool to hear the band work with, while the three closing tracks are all solid, mid-to-uptempo numbers, with the closer, "The
Other Option" being another of my favorites from the record.  I was expecting a ballad with that title, but it turned into one of the better rockers here.

The production from Christian and Zampa is excellent and serves the overall feel and sound of the record extremely well.  I do wish the keyboard intros on a few of these tracks had been trimmed back a bit, as that's really not my thing, and in a couple of places they are almost distractingly long ("Harlequin" is a perfect example).  There is a bit of a tempo drop-off in the second half, so maybe a slight track rearrangement would benefit the overall flow of the record, but these complaints are minor.

All in all, I would have to say that Saint Of The Lost Souls likely clocks in as my fourth or fifth favorite album by the band in their 11 album catalog, so that says something about how good it is.  It will take a lot to displace the likes of Sahara, Cartesian Dreams, or the self-titled debut record from the top of the House Of Lords heap for me, but Saint Of The Lost Souls puts up a decent fight.  Definitely a contender for a slot in the Top 17 of 2017, but with so many great albums out already this year, that will be a tough list to crack. 

Rating:  Definitely a crank-worthy return!  Spin this up to 8!

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THE TOP 17 OF 2017!!!

Hard to believe it, but another year has passed and it is 2018 already!  Over the course of 2017, I had the opportunity to hear so much new music, by so many different bands...sometimes weeks or months before anyone else, that it has been a true blast for me and Glitter2Gutter!  First time bands busting out of the gates...established bands still blazing on...reunited bands making the comeback album...we've heard it all this year, and so much of it has been great stuff!  So, let's get things started with....

THE MOST READ REVIEWS OF 2017

2017 was a big year for people reading Glitter2Gutter!  The top 3 most-read album reviews this year had so many reads that they have joined the Top 10 of all time!  That's some serious reading, folks!  This category is purely data driven...no opinions, no guesswork, just pure, raw data.  These 17 albums had the most "unique hits" during the year, which does not factor in people re-reading a post from the same IP address, scroll-through reading, etc. 

17.  OWL COMPANY - Horizon  

16.  QUIET RIOT - Road Rage

15.  BABYLON A.D. - Revelation Highway

14.  SHAKRA - Snakes And Ladders

13.  RAZORBATS - Social Rejects/Sister Siberia Single

12.  THOUSAND FOOT KRUTCH - Untraveled Roads: Live

11.  DOLL HAZARD - Transatlantic Meltdown

10.  GOLD, FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH - Identity Crisis

9.  GROUPIE HIGH SCHOOL - ...Ladies & Gentlemen

8.  LIVESAY - Frozen Hell

7.  FICTION SYXX - Tall, Dark Secrets

6.  EMPERORS & ELEPHANTS - Moth

5.  FEAR NOT - Fear Not 25th Anniversary Edition

4.  DELIVERANCE - The Subversive Kind

3.  ROMEO RIOT - Sing It Loud

2.  BOBAFLEX - Eloquent Demons

...and with more than 1140 unique readers, the most read review of 2017....

1.  SHALLOW SIDE - One

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Not a lot needs to be said here, as all of the artists on this list released their first album in 2017 (we don't hold demos against the New Artist of the Year nominees).  A couple of these releases were sent to me relatively late, so reviews are not yet up...but they will be soon!  Even so, it was an absolute dog-fight for the Top Three spots, with each likely deserving of being the top...err....dog, and this order may even change tomorrow if I were to re-write this ranking!  Congrats to everyone on this list, as all hopefully have bright futures!

8.  VINCE VOLTAGE  (Review To Come)

7.  GOLD, FRANKINCENSE & MYRRH  (Band of sisters brings edge and grit to this set, while also managing to show a softer, sweeter side when the moment calls for it.  Looking for big things from these girls in the future.)

6.  GRETA VAN FLEET (Review To Come)

5.  SILKED & STAINED  (These Greeks may own the surprise album of the year for me, and I can't stop playing Love On The Road, even 5 months after first spinning it!)

4.  TEQUILA SUNRISE  (Spaniards show a flair for 80s inspired rock that would likely had them charting 25-30 years ago.)

3.  FICTION SYXX (Insanely talented band with beautifully crafted songs.  Check our lists and you will see Fiction Syxx had an amazing year for a debut act!)

2.  DOLL HAZARD  (Transatlantic Meltdown is, in my opinion, a modern sleaze masterpiece that simply must be heard!  Hopefully these two guys will figure out the time and place to record a follow-up in the not-too-distant future!)

...and the Number 1 New Artist of the Year is...

1.  ROMEO RIOT  (A label-family supergroup, Romeo Riot's debut effort contains some of the catchiest hooks and most memorable melodies of all the albums I reviewed this year.  Hopefully this won't be a "one and done" effort, as Sing It Loud is simply a great record!)

COMEBACK OF THE YEAR

There were a handful of nice comebacks this year, so picking our Top 8 was a bit of a challenge.  That being said, the Number One comeback of the year...not really all that close....

8.  STEPHEN PEARCY Smash  "It's not completely Ratt, and it's not really Arcade, but it's definitely solid, hard-edged rock, and Pearcy hasn't sounded better on a solo effort...ever."

7.  12 STONES - Picture Perfect  5 years between albums, a new record label, and the band manages to pull off what may be their best album ever...

6.  JACK RUSSEL'S GREAT WHITE - He Saw It Comin' The first album from Jack's version of the legendary band contains a few classic-sounding cuts along with several new twists to keep the band musically interesting in 2017!

5.  LA GUNS - The Missing Peace  Included here due to the "comeback" of the Guns/Lewis duo, The Missing Peace is an excellent return to form.

4.  PROJECT 86 - Sheep Among Wolves  Hardcore/metalcore legends prove they still have plenty left in the tank, releasing not only a new album but a killer covers EP, as well!

3.  AUTOGRAPH - Get Off Your Ass  We're going to go ahead and include these guys as their new release includes the material from last year's EP.  This is a band that I had truly left for dead, yet it comes back with a new singer and the most complete record since their sophomore effort.

2.  BABYLON A.D. - Revelation Highway  Sure, some of these are old Persuaders tracks, but they are re-recorded and mixed with several tracks of new material making the project, as a whole, an amazing return for a band that kind of just evaporated after 2000's third album...

...and the Number One Comeback Album Of The Year....

1.  GALACTIC COWBOYS - Long Way Back To The Moon  Not really a contest, LWBttM is a simply spectacular return to form for a wildly underappreciated band!  Let's hope its not another 17 years between albums!

GLITTER2GUTTER'S TOP 17 OF 2017!!!

This year G2G reviewed 58 albums, and have another dozen or so written and simply needing final editing, so I heard a LOT of music...and most of it was really, really good!  It is safe to say, at least for me, that 2017 was one of the better years in recent memory for hard rock and metal, and I am hopeful that 2018 will hold similar greatness!

HONORABLE MENTIONS:  

BIGFOOT Bigfoot (Review To Come)  Melodic hard rockers Bigfoot definitely bring their "A" game to the table on their debut album, with big rockers, smooth melodic delivery, and a sweeping epic to close things out that is one of the better tracks I've heard this year.  Maybe a song or two too long, I'm hoping for another Bigfoot sighting of in the near future (yeah, yeah...I know....)

BLACK BAMBI Black Bambi (Review To Come)  I never thought this album would properly see the light of day, despite the multiple bootlegs that circulated on the music-trading underground, but Black Bambi is finally here and it is dang good!  Nicely produced and very well performed, it still leaves me wondering why this band never got the chance to break out on radio and MTV.

DEVOID Cup Of Tears  Had this CD crossed my desk earlier, there is no doubt it would have made the top ten...perhaps even top five...heck, maybe even grabbed the top spot for the year!  I simply love this record and am filled with anticipation for the band's next release, hopefully not too far in the future. This is EXACTLY what melodic metal should sound like to my ears!  An amazing, must-hear record.

EMPERORS & ELEPHANTS Moth "Picking up right where their debut album left off, Moth features heavy, down-tuned, grungy guitars, big, punchy drums, and thick bass work along with the unmistakable vocals of Andrews who can exude hurt, pain, and anger with his style in a way that not many others appear able to do these days."

HOUSE OF LORDS Saint Of The Lost Souls  Probably my favorite album by the insanely talented and vocally-charismatic James Christian since Cartesian Dreams, and a definite step-up from the relatively disappointing Indestructible, with excellent work from Jimi Bell on guitars, BJ Zampa on drums, and newcomer Chris Tristram on bass.  If the Top 17 was expanded to a Top 20 or 25, this record would definitely be there.

IRON SAVIOR Reforged: Riding On Fire   Despite the fact that this is an album of re-recorded material, it deserves mention due to the superb work done here.  "The performances here are top-notch, with blisteringly fast rhythm guitar work, blazing solos, and some excellent drumming from brand-new drummer, Klose, along with Sielck's voice as snarling and menacing as ever...as it stands, this is a nearly perfect collection and an amazing primer for any new fans who want to check out the band's earlier, classic material without paying ridiculous prices."  

JACK RUSSELL'S GREAT WHITE He Saw It Comin'  "Crank this eclectic collection, but give it time to grow on you organically.  Don't try to force the record into being Psycho City II or Shot In The Dark II, because you will be being unfair to yourself and to the record."

MANAFEST Stones  A modern rocker with hints of rap mixed throughout the record, Manafest will not be everyone's cup of tea, but Stones deserves a nod.  Currently on tour with Adelita's Way, you may want to check Manafest out if you get the chance in a live setting, as you may be pleasantly surprised with what you ear, even if it's not your regular style of music.

OTHERWISE Sleeping Lions  "Definitely the band's most complete album, and their most interesting, it might not have the big, stand-out tracks like "Soldiers" or "Darker Side Of The Moon", but I feel it is the album that is going to stick with listeners.  Intricate and detailed in places, blazing with anger in others, Sleeping Lions pretty much runs the gamut for the band musically, with hard, crunchy numbers and even a couple of mellower, more laid back moments."  

SILKED & STAINED Love On The Road  "There is no way I anticipated enjoying this record as much as I do, and I find myself returning to it time and time again.  Here's hoping the band gets some recognition in the States and throughout Europe...maybe even Japan...and is able to continue on, as I think they have quite a bit to offer."

SKARLETT RIOT Renegade (Review To Come)  Mixing the angst of modern rockers like Bullet For My Valentine with melodic female vocals and a few hints of 80s-era attitude and edge, Skarlett Riot could really find themselves building an audience in the metal world in 2018 and beyond!

STEELHEART Through Worlds Of Stardust (Review To Come)  Forget everything you thought you knew about Steelheart, as this is 70s-inspired classic rock with some 80s attitude thrown into the mix.

SWEET & LYNCH Unified (Review To Come)  Not quite as solid as their debut, but a very good record, nonetheless.  Sweet is in top-classic Stryper vocals form, and Lynch...well, it's George Lynch!

TEQUILA SUNRISE Danger Zone  "All in all, I found myself really enjoying this record, and the talent is obviously there in large quantities, especially in the guitars and the vocals.  I found it to be a really fun nostalgia trip without the songs all sounding like rehashes of 80s classics.  In all honesty, I think this band could have been a player in the 80s/early 90s, as they have a definite feel for the songwriting, the structure, and the performances of that era."

UNRULY CHILD Can't Go Home The best of the band's output since the reunion of the classic 1992 line-up.  Not the best record in their catalog, but probably Top 3.

And now...THE LIST....

17.  OWL COMPANY Horizon  "Horizon is one of those records that should get massive heavy rock radio attention...and possibly even Grammy-type attention...but it is likely going to fly under the radar of those "in the know" morons who think they know what metal and heavy rock fans want.  Trust me, if you want actual old-school metal, soaked in whiskey and filtered through the doomy sludge of the 70s, heavy rockers Owl Company are exactly what you have been searching for." 

16.  LIV SIN Follow Me  "Generally heavier, and certainly faster in several places than with Sister Sin, Liv Sin has enough elements of her previous band to carry fans over, but there is even more metallic goodness here than in her previous work, and metalheads who may have dismissed her in the past are likely to sit up and take notice now."  

15.  HELL IN THE CLUB See You On The Dark Side (Review To Come)  Slightly different from the Euro-sleaze fans have come to expect from this band, yet still oozing with enough raunch and filth...and absolute fun...to place this record solidly among the best I have heard so far this year.    

14.  LA GUNS The Missing Peace  " No skippers, no filler, no pointless intros, outros, or interludes, just a snarling collection of sleaze-drenched rockers and a couple of big power ballads fashioned from some really good songwriting and musical execution.   Edgy, sleazy, gritty...and yet still allowing for a bit of fun...The Missing Peace is everything I could have hoped for in an LA Guns reunion album, minus, of course, a full reunion with Steve Riley, Kelly Nickels, and Mick Cripps..."

13.  NIGHT RANGER Don't Let Up  "While it doesn't reach the level of the band's first three records, Seven Wishes, Midnight Madness, and Dawn Patrol, Don't Let Up is a definite keeper, with all of the classic hard rock elements in place...minus the power ballad...even if all of the classic players are not.  The additions of Levy, and especially Kelli, bring a freshness to the familiar feel of this great band, and that "magic" feel has returned that I felt so connected to back in the 1980s.  The songs are well-written and nearly perfectly played, and the production is absolutely spot-on throughout the record.  Try as I might, I have a hard time finding any major flaws, and only a couple of "lesser" songs (which really aren't bad songs, at all...), keep me from pushing this all the way to the top."

12.  INGLORIOUS II (Review To Come)  While claims that Inglorious may be "the best band to come out of Great Britain since Led Zeppelin" seem a bit over-the-top and, quite frankly, WAY too early, II is definitely catchy as hell and a great, great record with tons of energy and top-notch performances.

11.  SHALLOW SIDE One "For a band I have never heard of prior to this, Shallow Side seems to have hoarded some fairly significant musical talent for their little band and stashed it away so that they could unleash it upon the listeners at the time of their own choosing.  This band knows who they are and are unapologetic about it.  I can appreciate that as a listener because while the sounds and styles vary from track to track, never do you feel like you have a bunch of CDs on shuffle here as the band changes things up.  Rather, you feel exactly like the band intends for you to feel...entertained, a bit challenged, possibly a bit physically exhausted, and still wanting more."

10.  BOBAFLEX Eloquent Demons  "...as much as I have thoroughly enjoyed their previous efforts, especially Charlatan's Web and Anything That Moves, there is no doubt in my mind that Eloquent Demons has taken the band to a new level."

9.  TOKYO MOTOR FIST Tokyo Motor Fist  "To my mind, this has the feel of a best of record, because there is no truly weak song here. The flow is flawless, there are no weak songs, and the musicianship is top notch.  And as to Ted Poley, I do not think he has ever sounded better anywhere, including the Danger Danger or Poley/Rivera releases, which is saying something, in my mind.  The production is crystal clear, the mix is stellar...I honestly don't have much negative to say about Tokyo Motor Fist other than I have no clue what the name means!"

8.  FICTION SYXX   Tall, Dark Secrets  "Combining an obvious love for the melodic style of the 80s with a somewhat progressive approach to several songs, Fiction Syxx sounds at times to be very familiar and very comfortable...in spite of the fact that nothing here come off as clones or copies of anyone else's music or style."

7.  SHAKRA Snakes And Ladders  "This is a great record from start to finish, and one that I constantly find myself spinning again and again.  What a truly great return for Fox and for Shakra.  Perhaps now the band will get the due that it is deserved!"

6.  ECLIPSE Momentum (Review To Come)  Continuing with the melodic hard rock excellence that this band has brought to the scene for the past few releases, Momentum may be the best album these guys have released, and could easily have slipped into the Top 5 were it not for a couple of surprise hits ahead of it.

5.  BABYLON A.D.  Revelation Highway  "All five of the original band members are here for Revelation Highway, which adds even more to the overall greatness of this record.  No one sounds as if they have lost anything to my ears.  The guitars are edgy yet melodic, with blazing solos and chunky rhythm sections, Davis' voice, while perhaps a touch lower in register than previously, still has grit, power, and range, and there is a tightness to the band that can only be attained through years of playing together.   I absolutely love this record, minor production flaws notwithstanding."  

4.  GALACTIC COWBOYS  Long Way Back To The Moon  "I don't know that this record will be the one that "breaks" the band to the world, as I'm not sure that is even a possibility now, with the way radio and internet music outlets operate.  But it is a record that should give musicians and artists hope that creativity still counts for something and that perhaps perseverance can be its own reward of sorts."  

3.  DOLL HAZARD  Transatlantic Meltdown  "Doll Hazard is an absolutely must-hear for fans of this style of music, and the incorporation of the men's influences and respective bands has created an album that will be hard to match for just about any band who runs on the sleazier, dirtier side of rock n roll.  Regardless of the distance between them, the two men managed to pull off what should be pointed to as a modern standard for the sleaze-punk genre." 

2.  ROMEO RIOT  Sing It Loud  "No question that Sing It Loud is a Top 17 for 2017.  The question is just how high in that Top 17 of '17 it will finish!"  Pure, unadulterated melodic hard rock goodness from start to finish, with huge hooks and amazing songwriting, Romeo Riot sounds as much like a family having an absolute blast as it does a band!  Here's hoping for more in the near future!

...and the Number One album of the year for Glitter2Gutter....

1.  RIVERDOGS  California  "There is very little I can say negatively about this record, and I find myself drawn to just put it on "album repeat" and let it run over and over in the background...except that I keep finding myself stopping to appreciate the overall musical experience the album brings.  This is a mature rock record, to be sure, with deeper thought levels involved in the lyrics of the vast majority of the songs, but that doesn't mean it isn't catchy or inspired.  Quite the opposite is true, in my opinion, as something about every track here definitely catches my attention and pulls me in its direction.  To say that this is a candidate for Record of the Year for me is not an overstatement..."

So there you have it!  The Top 17 of 2017, as voted on by...well, by me.  Here's hoping that 2018 will bring even more hard rock/metal greatness and that everyone finds something that they simply can't stop listening to in the upcoming year!

Thanks for reading!!!