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On April 29, 1981, "Van Halen" released their fourth studio album "Fair Warning". There is a moment, just seconds into "Mean Street", where "Van Halen" make their intent on this album unmistakably clear. The guitar intro is not merely intricate, it is hostile, sharp, almost confrontational. "Fair Warning" does not chase the brightness of "Women and Children First". It cuts inward, darker, leaner, and far more suspicious of its own mythology. What gives this album its lasting relevance is the way it deliberately refuses to meet expectations. Eddie Van Halen strips away the showmanship without sacrificing brilliance. His playing here feels more architectural than explosive, building tension through rhythm as much as through lead work. The strange opening of "Mean Street" is a masterclass in controlled aggression. By contrast, "Unchained", which opens the second side of the vinyl, is built around a riff that seems simple and immediately catchy, but only on the surface. As the song unfolds, it thickens and grows more tangled, becoming massive and complex, to the point where it is not entirely clear how it functions as the central element that turns the track into the album’s defining hit. Lead vocalist David Lee Roth adjusts himself to the shifts the band is pushing here. Where he once played the carefree ringmaster, his delivery now feels sharper, more sardonic. On "Dirty Movies" he leans into a rap-influenced narrative style, delivering lines with a smirk that edges toward cynicism, while "Hear About It Later", which closes the first side, reveals a rare melodic restraint that allows the chorus to breathe. "Push Comes to Shove" stands as the album’s unexpected card. Driven by the hypnotic bass work of Michael Anthony, it slips into a relaxed groove with reggae touches, showcasing both the band’s versatility and its willingness to explore beyond its core sound. It is followed by the album’s first single, "So This Is Love?", which injects a different kind of energy. Built around a loose, unforced groove, it leans closer to funk than metal, carrying a deceptive lightness that masks tightly controlled rhythmic precision. The instrumental "Sunday Afternoon in the Park" acts as a brief yet significant disruption in the album’s flow. It abandons the band’s familiar rhythmic clarity in favor of something far more abstract and unsettling. Layers of synthesizers drift with an almost industrial coldness, while the guitar lines feel suspended in space. It is a genuinely strange piece, a moment of unease that leads directly into the aggression of "One Foot Out the Door", the punk-leaning closing track. "Fair Warning" is far from the most accessible "Van Halen" album, nor was it meant to be. It captures a band actively interrogating itself, choosing discomfort over repetition. That decision is precisely what gives the record its edge, allowing it to stand apart within the band’s already formidable catalog. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

This is the third album by the band "Tremonti" which was issued on April 16th 2016 !! If you remember, when we celebrated Mark Tremonti's birthday 10 days ago, we told you that the band recorded this album as part of the recordings of the second "Cauterize". Tremonti waited so long to embark on a solo career and until it came, he had a lot of great ideas, riffs, lyrics, and melodies that were just waiting to explode into the world world. Both albums were recorded in the same session, Tremonti said he wanted to record as many songs as possible and after finishing the recordings he felt it would be a crime to release only one album with 13-15 songs, and the rest as B sides. So he decided to create two different albums from the recordings. Two albums that are balanced between stronger, melodic, and slower songs. A kind of equal split between the two that expressed what Tremonti wanted. Although there was no bassist on the previous album, on this album the credit for the bass was given to Wolfgang Van Halen (the son of), who also joined the band's tour after the album's release. But despite the desire to create a balanced two albums, there are two elements here that slightly differentiate this album from the previous one. It's not clear if it was designed that way, but it seems that in the songs selected for this album, Tremonti's voice upgraded to the next level. It features higher capabilities and a wider range of sound than in the previous album. We have already come to know that he also has amazing singing talent, but here he is already undoubtedly taking a step up. Another element is greater musical diversity compared to the previous album. While many of the songs on this album contain similar elements, there is still greater variation compared to the previous album, ranging from chants with huge melodies, in "The Cage", through delicate moments like "Dust" and even a combination of almost psychedelic atmosphere in "Tore My Heart Out" and "Never Wrong". It is important to emphasize that the diversity does not impair the formation and coherence of the album, which flows throughout in a natural and fluid way, until even the light song that closes the album, "Unable to See", feels like it blends in perfectly. This album once again demonstrates the tremendous talent of "The Texas Sawyer," both on guitar in the powerful and murderous riffs and mesmerizing solos, and in the powerful vocals and production that strengthen Tremonti's status as one of the best and most respected artists of our generation. (Photo: Ashley Maile) Another thing we must note here is the amazing combination of the band members. Tremonti did an excellent job in selecting the musicians. They fit in perfectly with "The Texas Sawyer", know how to accompany it little when needed, pick up and highlight it at other moments, and break with it and bomb in just the right place. Despite the dominant presence of Tremonti the rest of the members do not disappear at all, each feels at just the right time and timing. Garrett Whitlock turns out to be a sharp, fierce, battered, powerful, and perfect drummer for Tremont's aggressive riffs, trust us it's hard, it's very hard to be a drummer next to "The Texas Sawyer" that sets the pace for you with such aggressive riffs. Eric Friedman - Tremonti's accompanist and right-handed guitarist, fits like a glove into Tremonti's lead role and accompanies him with the same intensity and attacks. The new bass player in the group Wolfgang Van Halen also completes the rhythm section and holds the low frequencies on the album with great pride and a high hand. So make sure you are not near flammable materials and just click play because we assure you that everything will go up in flames... Listen to Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On April 28, 1972 "Wishbone Ash" released their third album "Argus". This album is considered a milestone in the development of the "Twin Lead Guitar" sound, the combination and harmonization between two guitars, which was later adopted by bands such as "Thin Lizzy" and "Iron Maiden". It's not for nothing that Steve Harris was quoted as saying in an interview with "Guitar World" magazine in 2011, as follows: "I think if anyone wants to understand Maiden's early thing, in particular the harmony guitars, all they have to do is listen to "Wishbone Ash's" "Argus" album". "Wishbone Ash" was established in October 1969 and its roots are rooted in the previous band of its founders "The Torinoes", which was active from the beginning of the 60s. You will be surprised, but it was not really customary at that time for rock bands to include two lead guitarists. So how did it happen here and have such an impact on the metal bands that came after? The founders of the band were bassist and singer Martin Turner and drummer Steve Upton. They were looking for a guitarist to replace Glenn Turner (Martin's brother) and held quite a few auditions, but just couldn't decide between their two finalists, Andy Powell and Ted Turner (no relation to Martin this time). So what did they do? They just took both, just to see what it will sound like. And it sounds just great!!! It is interesting to note, that exactly in the same year that "Wishbone Ash" was formed, "The Allman Brothers Band" was formed on the other side of the ocean, in Jacksonville, Florida, and also included two leading guitarists. But unlike the twin guitar sound of the "southern rock" pioneers, the sound of "Wishbone Ash" included strong elements of "progressive rock" and "folk" music and thus their uniqueness. The name of the band was chosen after its members wrote some suggested names on two sheets of paper. Martin Turner chose one word from each list and the result was: 'Wishbone' and 'Ash'. The band's big opportunity came at the beginning of 1970, when "Wishbone Ash" managed to be the opening act for "Deep Purple". Guitarist Ritchie Blackmore jammed with guitarist Andy Powell at one of the Soundchecks and got really excited. He was also very impressed by the amazing abilities of the rest of the band and decided to recommend "Wishbone Ash" to producer Derek Lawrence, even helping them get a contract with "Decca/MCA Records". The band's eponymous debut album, "Wishbone Ash", was released in December 1970 and its musical style included elements of blues, jazz, progressive rock, and psychedelia. A year later, the group released "Pilgrimage" which already focused more on acoustic folk music than the blues rock sound that dominated the first album. It also included quite a bit of instrumental jazz and that is where the band began to develop their vocal harmonies (in the style of Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young), as well as the harmonies between the guitars. But the band reached its creative and commercial peak with the release of their third album "Argus", which became their best-selling and most influential album. This is the album where the band's sound and style began to take shape. To record the album, producer Derek Lawrence collaborated with "Deep Purple" sound engineer (and future producer) Martin Birch, with the two utilizing the (then) state-of-the-art 16-channel console to create this masterful album in less than a month. The very unique style of the album and the band is already revealed in the opening track "Time Was". It is a complex epic of almost ten minutes, which begins with a long acoustic folk section, which builds the tension nicely before the song takes a turn around the 3:00 minute mark and becomes rockish. From there the song develops and changes, with no less than three lead parts by the two leading guitarists Andy Powell and Ted Turner, who also make sure to pad the song with harmonies and short guitar phrases. "Sometime World" sits already in the bluesy genre with a solid bass line that holds this bluesy ballad throughout. Like the opening song, here too the track takes a rockier turn with an energetic jam that includes great leads from the pair of guitarists. "Blowin' Free" works exactly the opposite of the previous two sections. It features an interesting guitar intro that leads us into the tight rhythm of the song, but then, the song just breaks down into a gentle, quiet transition section before coming back and bursting with bluesy guitar solos, the latter of which leads the song to its end. The other side of the vinyl opens up to the rhythm of marching drums that announce the arrival of the king. "The King Will Come" is one of the album's most beautiful songs, emphasizing the combination of English folk music with blues and rock. In contrast, "Leaf and Stream" is entirely based on English folk. It's a quiet and pure folk song with a particularly melodic lead vocal that also highlights Martin Turner's vocal abilities. The album ends with a two-part mini-suite by Andy Powell and Ted Turner. A pair of songs that connect to each other both lyrically and melodically. "Warrior" features long sections of music that drain into a long jam. This song also corresponds with the album cover designed by the legendary Storm Thorgerson. Immediately after it comes "Throw Down the Sword", which already refers to the moments after the battle, in which the "warrior" puts the sword aside and gains glory, in an epic ending led by the pair of guitars that take us to a long, sweeping solo until the end. 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On April 28, 2009, "Heaven & Hell" released its Eponymous album. This is actually the same Dio-era lineup of "Black Sabbath" that recorded the albums "Mob Rules" and "Dehumanizer", which includes Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, Vinny Appice, and Ronnie James Dio. The album's story begins 4 years earlier - in 2005. After several attempts by Tony Iommi and Geezer Butler to bring about the reunion of Black Sabbath in the original lineup, they realized that Ozzy Osbourne was not really interested, and approached Ronnie James Dio with an offer to return and work together. Dio had just finished touring the "Master of the Moon" album and Tony Iommi was just after the release of his second solo album "Fused". The thought of the two returning to writing together after 13 years since the 1992 album "Dehumanizer" was a dream come true for all Metalist. Dio, Geezer, and Iommi initially approached drummer Bill Ward to join the union, but since he declined the offer Vinny Appice has been recruited in his place to complete the lineup. (Photo: Riffipedia.fandom.com) The quartet entered the studio in 2006 and recorded 3 new songs: "The Devil Cried", "Shadow of the Wind" and "Ear in the Wall", which were included on the album "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years" - a compilation album that brought together the best of Black Sabbath's Dio-era. After the release of the album, the band went on a tour in 2007, under the name "Heaven & Hell". Guitarist Tony Iommi said it was intended to avoid confusion with the band's original lineup with Ozzy Osbourne, who had been performing together in 2005. Iommi noted that the aim was to prevent audiences from expecting to hear songs like "Iron Man" or "War Pigs" associated with the Ozzy era. Needless to say that two years later, in May 2009, Ozzy filed a lawsuit against Iommi for royalties from the name "Black Sabbath", but this lawsuit was filed about a month after the release of this album. After completing the tour, Ronnie James Dio's first thought was to return to his solo lineup and start working on the sequels to the excellent concept album "Magica" from 2000 - "Magica II" and "Magica III". However, the warm and excellent reactions from the performances and the three new songs that the band wrote for the compilation album "Black Sabbath: The Dio Years", convinced him to continue with the momentum and he agreed to record a full album. The original material for the album was written in the homes of Tony Iommi and Ronnie James Dio, when in 2008 the band moved to "Rockfield Studios" in Wales to record the album. Anyone looking for the genius of the album "Heaven And Hell" or the perfection of "Mob Rules", will have a hard time finding them in this album. In a sense, this album lacks even the heaviness and power of "Dehumanizer". It is very difficult for us to write this, because it is still one of our favorite lineups in Metal, but in our humble opinion, except for a few great moments here and there, this album does not match any of the three albums we mentioned above and it seems the years since its release only reinforce this conclusion. In our youth, we held the view that any "record" that includes at least 3 powerful and memorable songs is for us a "great" record. With great sorrow and a heavy heart, it is difficult for us to find in this album more than 2.5 such songs. Maybe it's the gothic vibe that surrounds some of the songs, and maybe it's the fact that this album corresponds more with Doom than Heavy Metal when we were expecting another "Heaven And Hell" style album, but listening to this album sometimes feels like a monotonous road trip, with an arid desert landscape, with no ups and downs and no surprises and curves, and this is very different from what we got from this lineup previous three albums. Some of the songs on this album sit on a monotonous 4/4 rhythm with repetitive and uninspired riffs, so much so, that even today after dozens of listens and over a decade since its release, it is difficult for us to remember the names of some of the songs and/or even distinguish between them. It's not that this album is bad. Definitely not!!! If we compare it to the materials that came out at that time it is even very good and for a moment we would not have considered not having it on our record collection. There are great tracks here like the opening song "Atom and Evil", the epic track "Bible Black" or "Follow The Tears" with the gothic opening. There are also sweeping and interesting riffs like the one from "Fear" or "Rock and Roll Angel", but still something does not work well enough here, if some of the songs fail to "hold" and continue to play in our heads after we finish listening to them. Either way, this album is an amazing ending chord to the glorious career of singer Ronnie James Dio. A few months after the album's release, in November 2009, Dio will be diagnosed with stomach cancer. The tests initially looked positive and the band even planned to continue with their tour. But in the end, the tour was canceled on May 4, 2010, due to Dio's health condition. He passed away a few days later on May 16, 2010, and is 67 years old. As for the album cover, it is based on a painting called "Satan" by artist Per Øyvind Haagensen. The numbers 25:41 that appear to the right and left of the symbol of "Black Sabbath" are the chapter and verse number in the book of "Matthew", from the New Testament, which deals with the Last Judgment where "those who sit at the left side of God are cast down into Hell" For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Today we'll tell you about guitarist Ace Frehley. (Photo: World Records) 1. He was born in the Bronx, New York on April 27, 1951, as Paul Daniel Frehley. 2. Ace's father is of Dutch descent and his mother has roots in the Cherokee tribe. 3. Ace's family was very musical. His father played the organ at church, his mother played the piano and his brother and sister played guitar and piano. 4. As a child, Ace was part of a street gang from the Bronx called the "Ducky Boys." 5. Ace never took guitar lessons. He received his first guitar as a Christmas present when he was 13 years old. 6. The artists who influenced him most in his childhood were Jimi Hendrix, Albert Lee, Buddy Guy, Jeff Beck, B.B. King, "Led Zeppelin", "The Rolling Stones" 7. He got the name "Ace" in high school from his friends who thought he was really "Ace" in getting dates with girls. 8. Ace was not a good student. He was thrown out of two high schools and dropped from the third in favor of music. Despite his retirement, he managed to get back and earn a diploma. 9. During high school he was a member of several bands, among them "The Outrage" in which his brother was also a member. 10. Along with another band called "Molimo" he even got to record an album in 1971. (Photo: Michael Ochs) 11. Before becoming a musician he worked in a variety of jobs, including as a postman and messenger boy. 12. He also was a roadie for drummer Mitch Mitchell during a tour of Jimi Hendrix and the Band of Gypsys. 13. He joined "Kiss" after responding to an advertisement published by Paul Stanley in the newspaper, on December 14, 1972. For the audition, he appeared in one red sneaker and the other in orange. It stressed the rest of the members, but his playing immediately captivated them. 14. Ace was the one who designed the famous "Kiss" logo with the two aces in the shape of lightning, Paul Stanley gave the final touches. 15. Kiss's First Concert was on January 30, 1973, at a small festival in Queens, New York. The band performed with makeup, but not with the iconic comic book characters we know today. 16. The first appearance with the costumes of the four members of the band was held on March 9, 1973, when Ace takes on the character of the "Space Ace" or "Spaceman". 17. In March 1973 the band recorded a demo tape with 5 tracks together with the legendary producer Eddie Kramer. This recording will help them sign the first recording contract with the "Casablanca Records". 18. The debut album bearing their name was released on February 18, 1974. (Photo: Udiscovermusic.com) 19. Ace wrote the song "Cold Gin" for the album. It was on the New York subway, he remembered everything, both words, and music since he had nowhere to write. 20. Frehley noted that the song was written about the drink that warms him on cold nights, but there is a more detailed version according to which "cold gin" refers to the so-called stimulating effect it has on the male sexual urge. 21. This song got an interesting cover version by "Disturbed" in a tribute show to guitarist Dimebag Darrell. It was his favorite song which was also performed by "Pantera" and "Skid Row" in 1992, with Ace Frehley being a special guest. The song was also played during Dimbag's funeral. 22. Ace nearly died in December 1976 during a performance at the "Civic Center" in Lakeland, Florida, USA, following an unexpected technical malfunction that caused him to "get electrocuted" on stage. 23. This incident inspired Frehley to write "Shock Me", the first song he ever sang, which was included on the 1977 "Love Gun" album. 24. He released his first solo album on September 18, 1978, on the same day that the three remaining members of "Kiss" released their solo albums. 25. Ace's album was the best of the four solo albums released that day, both in terms of sales and critical acclaim. The album included the song "Factured Mirror" which inspired guitarist Randy Rhoads to write the song "You Can't Kill Rock N 'Roll". 26. Ace appeared on the cover of the 1982 album Creatures of the Night even though his contribution at this point to the writing process was already minimal. 27. Ace's last appearance with the band was in November 1982. 28. Although at that time he was no longer part of "Kiss", he received 1/4 of the profit from the albums "Lick It Up" and "Animalize". (Photo: Kyleigh Pitcher) 29. In 1985 he made his first appearance with his band - "Frehley's Comet". 30. His first album outside of Kiss was "Frehley's Comet" released on his 36th birthday - April 27, 1987. The opening track of the album "Rock Soldiers" was written by Ace after surviving a serious car accident in 1983. In the song, he deals with his drinking problems. 31. In 1996 he rejoined "Kiss" as part of their successful reunion that included the original four members of the band. 32. This reunion tour spawned the band's first album in the original lineup called "Psycho Circus" from 1998. Ace left the band again in 2002. 33. In 2005 he starred in the film "Remedy", he also contributed to the soundtrack of the film. 34. In 2014 he was inducted into the "Rock and Roll Hall of Fame" with "Kiss". 35. That same year his album "Space Invader" reached No. 9 on Billboard, the highest-grossing single of the band members' solo albums. 36. On 2024 Ace released his 8th studio album "10,000 Volts" and in 2025 he released his 3rd covers album "Origins Vol. 3". 37. Guitar World magazine ranked Ace 14th on the list of the greatest guitarists in metal. 38. Ace has released 9 studio albums in his solo career, 2 more under the name "Frehley's Comet" and another 10 studio albums along with "Kiss". On September 25, 2025, Ace had canceled tour dates after suffering a fall in his home studio and being hospitalized. On October 16, 2025, Frehley died in Morristown, New Jersey, at the age of 74, after complications from a fall that caused a brain bleed. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 25.04.1994 The backdrop is the days following the 1992 Los Angeles Riots, with a sense that the country was decaying from within, like a trash can being endlessly filled until the bottom layer rots, and a growing need to restore people’s care and belief before the unrest spreads further. During this time, Perry Farrell, who had just left Jane's Addiction, began shaping his next project, "Porno for Pyros", whose debut album was released on April 27, 1993. Following the massive success of "Jane’s Addiction’s" second album "Ritual De Lo Habitual", the band went out on tour as part of "Lollapalooza", the festival Farrell created to give a stage to alternative rock bands. Ironically, this was also the point where tensions within the band reached a breaking point. Whether due to Farrell’s struggles with addiction or the growing jealousy among the other members, the situation became impossible to resolve. The first "Lollapalooza" festival ultimately became the swan song of Jane’s Addiction in the 1990s. Farrell later explained that the tensions had become so unbearable that no one was listening to each other’s musical ideas anymore, making it clear the band could not continue to exist. Still, he had no intention of stepping away from music. While continuing to lead Lollapalooza, he reached out to his former bandmate Stephen Perkins to form a new band. While traveling in Mexico, Farrell met guitarist Peter DiStefano, who agreed to join. DiStefano then recommended bassist Martyn LeNoble, whom he knew from the Los Angeles rock scene of the 1980s. LeNoble almost didn’t make it. On the day of his audition, he was evicted from his apartment, and his car broke down on the way. He nearly gave up, but ultimately made it to the audition and secured his place in the band. Martyn LeNoble was born in April 1969 in Vlaardingen, Netherlands. He began his musical career at the age of 14, playing bass in a Dutch punk rock band. In 1989, he moved to Los Angeles, where he played with Thelonious Monster and Too Free Stooges. The band recorded a three-song demo that caught the attention of "Warner Bros. Records", and having Farrell and Perkins involved certainly helped them secure a deal. There are two main stories behind the band’s name. One suggests Farrell came up with "Porno for Pyros" after seeing a fireworks advertisement in a pornographic magazine. The second ties the name to the album’s title track and the events in Los Angeles, following the arrest and beating of Rodney King by white police officers. The band’s debut performance took place on April 4, 1992, at an AIDS awareness event organized by Magic Johnson. Anyone expecting Farrell’s new band to perform material from his previous group was quickly corrected, as he made it clear that the past would remain in the past, and his focus was entirely on creating and performing new music. Several songs on the album, including "Packin 25", "Sadness", "Porno for Pyros", and "Black Girlfriend", deal directly with the intense unrest of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots that took place a year before the album’s release. At the same time, some material carried over from "Jane's Addiction", with the lyrics of "Meija" telling the tragic story of a call girl, in what can be seen as a continuation of "Jane Says". The only single to achieve notable success, reaching No. 1 on the U.S. Alternative Airplay chart, was "Pets". Its lyrics describe a future where aliens take over Earth and treat humans as pets, but beyond the fantasy lies a much darker real-life inspiration, rooted in guitarist Peter DiStefano’s past. The song was inspired by a girl DiStefano had been in love with at the age of 13, named Brianna Denison, whom he dated while living in Santa Monica. She was later murdered along with her brother by a pair of criminals who carried out a series of home invasions in the area. DiStefano wrote and performed the song together with Perry Farrell as a tribute to her memory. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

He is the founding member of the band "Slipknot" and one of the biggest drummers in Metal, please welcome Joey Jordison. (Photo: joeyjordison.com) 1. He was born in Des Moines, Iowa on April 26, 1975, to Steve and Jackie Jordison. 2. He embraced music at an early age, which he attributes to his parents' influence. the first song his mother played to him already before he was out to the world was "The Spinners – The Rubberband Man" (1976). 3. He played guitar until receiving his first drum kit as a gift from his parents at age eight and started his first band while in elementary school. 4. His parents divorced when he was young and Jordison and his two sisters moved to leave with their mother who worked in a funeral parlor where Jordison would occasionally help. 5. He started drumming along with KISS records. Not only he was a huge fan, but also badly wanted to learn how to play the drum solo from the "100,000 Years" song, so he practiced it constantly. Once he got it done he felt his destiny is to play drums. 6. Still a teenager he formed the speed-metal thrash band "Modifidious", in which he played drums. The band helped Jordison break new ground, playing live as support to local bands including "Atomic Opera", featuring Jim Root, and "Heads on the Wall", featuring Shawn Crahan. (Photo: Jeff Hahne) 7. The band released two demos in 1993: "Visceral" and "Mud Fuchia". 8. Jordison cites Keith Moon, John Bonham, Peter Criss, Gene Krupa, and Buddy Rich as his main influences. 9. In 1995, "Modifidious" disbanded because of a shift in interest from thrash metal and Jordison joined a local band called "The Rejects" as a guitarist, with whom he only played a couple of shows. 10. Jordison was also involved in a band with Paul Gray and vocalist Don Decker, named "Anal Blast". 11. In the same year Paul Gray approached Jordison offering him to join a new project called "The Pale Ones". He attended rehearsals in a dark basement in Iowa and immediately wanted to be part of this new band. 12. Much of the band's early development was retrospectively attributed to late-night planning sessions between Gray, Shawn Crahan, and Jordison at a Sinclair gas station where Jordison worked night shifts. 13. It was there, in late 1995, that Jordison suggested changing the band name to "Slipknot" after their song of the same name. (Photo: Slipknot) 14. Two years later, after several lineup changes, two demo albums, and a number of crazy performances, the band managed to generate interest from the record companies and finally signed a seven-album contract with "Roadrunner Records". 15. Today most of you are probably familiar with the band, which is wearing overalls, and masks, and its members are called by numbers and not by names. Jordison's number is "1". 16. In 1999 the band released their first album which is named after the band. A strong, screaming, short, and ripping album that only managed to reach 51st place on the "Billboard 200" but became a legend in the genre. Thanks to this album, "Slipknot" gained immense exposure and began to create its fanatical fan base, known as "The Maggots". 17. Jordison said that this album was and will always be some of the absolute best memories of his life. It was amazing to be part of a dream come true, a bunch of guys who do not care about anything but making their own music, in their own way. 18. In 2001, the second album, "Iowa," was released. This album has already reached number three on the charts and the tour to promote the album became a "sold out" in many stadiums across the United States from the very beginning. 19. In 2002, Jordison revived his band "Murderdolls". He was the guitarist, and he recruited Wednesday 13 as a vocalist, while drummer Ben Graves and bassist Eric Griffin completed the band's lineup. They signed with Roadrunner Records and released an EP entitled "Right to Remain Violent" in 2002. 20. In the same year they released their debut album "Beyond the Valley of the Murderdolls". 21. "Slipknot's" third album "Vol. 3: The Subliminal Verses" was released in 2004. The recordings for the album were very difficult even though the famous producer Rick Rubin was recruited for the mission. The album made it to second place on the charts and granted the band its first Grammy win in 2006. Right after the album's tour, the band went into another hiatus. (Photo: Jo Hale) 22. In the same year at the "Download Festival", Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich was hospitalized for an unknown illness. James Hetfield searched amongst other bands performing at the festival to find a replacement for Ulrich; Jordison, Flemming Larsen (Ulrich's drum technician), and Dave Lombardo of "Slayer" volunteered. Jordison performed on 8 of the 13 songs of the set and was called the band's "hero of the day". 23. In 2007 "Korn" recruited Jordison to join them on tour when drummer David Silveria went on hiatus from the band. He also appeared in the music video for their single "Evolution". 24. In 2008 "Slipknot" releases its fourth album "All Hope Is Gone" which flies straight to the number one spot. It is the last album to feature the founding member and bass player Paul Gray who died two years later. 25. In 2010 with only Jordison and Wednesday 13 remaining from the original line-up. The "Murderdolls" release their second studio album "Women & Children Last". 26. In August 2010 Jordison was voted the best drummer of the previous 25 years by readers of "Rhythm" magazine, ahead of drummers such as Mike Portnoy, Neil Peart, Phil Collins, and Dave Grohl. 27. On December 12, 2013, "Slipknot" announced through its official website that Joey Jordison had left the band after 18 years, citing "personal reasons". In response, Jordison released a statement insisting that he had in fact been fired from the band. (Photo: Mary Ouellette) 28. Only in 2016 it was revealed that during "Slipknot" tour Jordison suddenly started suffering from "Transverse Myelitis", a neurological disease that cost him the ability to play the drums. The disease impacted mainly his legs for which he recovered only many years later. 29. In the same year Jordison formed a new extreme metal band called "Sinsaenum". They released their debut album "Echoes Of The Tortured" the same year. The second album, called "Repulsion for Humanity", was released in 2018. (Photo: Anthony Dubois) 30. Jordison cooperated with many artists as a drummer, guitar player, and producer such as Marilyn Manson, Otep, Rob Zombie, and many more... 31. Joey dies on July 26, 2021, at the age of 46. The cause of death was not immediately disclosed, although his family stated he died “peacefully in his sleep.” "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Dear readers, we ask that you go to the department store, and buy body armor, a helmet, and goggles. Once you have finished reading this review you will need to wear body armor, put the helmet on your head and goggles on your eyes, and only then will you will be ready to press play. Not before sitting in a stable chair in front of the speakers or headphones !! Do not let the album cover fool you, there is nothing sensual or caressing in this album. This is an album of four metal warriors who decided to go wild and are on their way to dismantle your body, the album "Fever" was released on April 26, 2010. We will not go back to the beginning of the band but just mention that their second album "Scream Aim Fire" which is, let's call it "Advanced Training", in the burning metal fields, was a graduation certificate with honors of the band from Walsh. It feels that the band is on a leap forward in terms of maturity and confidence. The songs sound solid and constructed properly, everything is closed properly and there are no loose ends. In this album, they decided to go to a "commanders course"... Only a year after the release of the previous album, the band members sat down to work on the above album. They said that the success of the previous album was a dream come true and reflected everything they aspired to as a band. They felt they were heading in the right direction, being a band and making music. Since they were so excited about the path and the result they wanted to start work very fast on the next album, to take advantage of the momentum they have as a band within themselves and not outwards. They enlisted producer Don Gilmore and started working on the album. Singer and bandleader Matthew Tuck said they enlisted Don to help them sharpen their knives and aim their weapons. They wanted to take the power, talent, and ability of "Bullet" and polish it in the studio with Don. The great emphasis was on vocals. Matthew knew he needed to improve and professionalize his singing abilities and that was one of the main goals in Don's role. They tried to bring to the studio the singing energies they have in live shows, making the vocals stronger and more penetrating. Matthew said that the time it took to record the vocals was double the time it took to record all the other instrument parts on the album. And not only that, the lyrics also underwent a significant change here when Matthew writes the songs while working on a song and not like before when he would write only after the song was instrumentally done. He and Don would rewrite the song four and five times until the result was strong enough in the eyes of all the band members. (Photo: Sony Music) Although this is only the third album of this deadly band, they chose to go back to the roots of the first album. It may sound funny if we compare it to bands that have 10 albums or more but there is something interesting here. After the great success of the second album, which was honed to perfection and provided a formula for success, they felt they had achieved what they wanted and can now create without concern for what audiences, record companies, or critics will think. They can return to creating as in the first album (which was also a great success), freely and loosely without definitions or guidelines. Some argue that this album is actually a combination of the band's two previous albums. Already at the opening of the album in the song "Your Betrayal", we get the "call to battle" with the rhythmic snare beats when all the other members of the band join as in the scene of an elite squad before going on a mission in an action movie. This is also the first single from the album and it's a "business card" of the album's reputation. We hope you did not forget to put on your protective clothing because the next song "Fever" will explode inside you if you pay close attention to what you are doing. The fourth single that came out of the album and also bears its name, expresses the powerful abilities of the band's great drummer Michael Thomas. The third song "The Last Fight" is the band's all-too-familiar and powerful DNA, powerful and fast melodic riffs combined with a fun singing melody to sing and roar with a rhythm section that holds amazing transitions and speeds. This is the second single from the album and if we said that the first single was the album's "business card", this song is the band's "business card". The following song is an example of the band's experimental parts on the album. "A Place Where You Belong" is a ballad that ranges from heavy to light and gives the band the ability to play with the singing, riffs and solos between strong and caressing. Matthew said Don also helped them experiment in places they had not been and never thought of before. Now say... "Pain" or "Pleasure", we have an unequivocal answer, "Pleasure And Pain", its a sheer pleasure. Matthew screams his soul to the all mighty or his spouse, you decide, and informs him / her that he feels only pain and not pleasure. A great stadium and party song. Another stadium song "Alone", with an epic opening that will make you stand and spread your arms to the sides, then you will already be running wild without a care in the world. After this song you can quietly go to ... "You can die and rot alone". Continue with the song "Breaking Out, Breaking Down" which is a stopover for the next song and no less and no more than that. Then we land on the ballad "Bittersweet Memories", the third single released from the album and this time we know he is talking about a spouse and not God. Matthew knows how to write really good ballads about love and relationships (see entry "Tears Don't Fall" from the first album). A heartbreaking metal drama of sour and sweet memories, the third single released from the album. The album is signed by three songs that will assimilate the DNA of this band if it has not happened by now. So be honest with "Dignity" and do not ask for mercy with "Begging For Mercy" because you know that sometimes what looks beautiful on the outside is not necessarily beautiful on the inside in stark contrast to the song that ends the album "Pretty On The Outside". We really like this band and this album especially, it has something in it that keeps you close much longer than other bands we know. And even though it has distinct DNA it still manages to diversify, change and innovate (see entry on its latest album bearing the band's name and released in 2021). Did you buy body armor, helmet and goggles? Well done, now click play at: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Editor's Choice... And this time, the album "Throwing Copper", is "Live's" second studio album. "Live" began its career as "Public Affection" and in 1989 released its debut album "The Death of a Dictionary". In 1990 the band released the mini-album "Divided Mind, Divided Planet" and only in June 1991 the band was renamed "Live", with the first material that the band released under this name being the EP - "Four Songs" was released in September 1991. The first full-length studio album under the name "Live" was released on the last day of 1991 and was called "Mental Jewelry". Three years after its first full-length album, Live is back with the album that will define the band. It's a breakthrough album which is also its best and most successful album. An album that is considered one of the first post-grunge works of art. The musical style here is a sort of hybrid between "R.E.M." To "Pearl Jam", a style that is an important station in the musical development of the alternative rock of the nineties, an album that serves as a bridge between the grunge of "Nirvana" from the beginning of the decade, and the alternative metal of "Creed" at the end. (Photo: Danny Clinch) Compared to the previous album, the band hardens its sound, shifting the weight from the clean and smooth alternative that characterized most of the previous album, toward the dirty and rough grunge. It begins with the guitar sound of Chad Taylor who knows how to balance beautifully between Clean and Distortion and continues with the voice of Ed Kowalczyk who sounds much more powerful and angry here. And what amazing songs there are on this album... "Selling the Drama" - the first single released from the album, leaping straight to the top of the Billboard charts, with an amazing combination of electric riffs and acoustic items, with Ed's penetrating singing that is a hybrid between Adam Duritz's broken voice from "Counting Crows" and Kurt Cobain's angry cries, with such a beautiful and intelligent bass playing by Patrick Dahlheimer. "I Alone" which was released as the second single from the album and is based on a story from the New Testament in which Jesus manages to calm a storm in the middle of the sea. A song that explodes after the intro, is so dynamic and sweeping that the band chose to close their performance with it at the 1994 Woodstock Festival. The bouncy "Iris" with the beating bassline and the rolling drumming. "Lightning Crashes" is the third single released from the album and was written about his classmate Ed who was killed in a car accident by a drunk driver in 1983. The melodic "Top" with eighties pop-rock fragrances. "All Over You" that was recorded and swept the release as the fourth single and became a popular song in the band's performances. "White, Discussion" whose style and sound form the bridge to what the band will do on the next album "Secret Samadhi". "Stage" whose frantic riffs are reminiscent of the post-punk of Kurt Cobain and "Nirvana", and more and more. This album sold over 8 million copies in the US and won first place in the US and other countries, Launching the band's popularity straight to the stages of the 1994 Woodstock Festival to be held in the summer of that year. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Written By: Moti Kupfer Release date - 25.04.1994 The years of Margaret Thatcher’s rule (1979–1990) were marked by sweeping reforms. Thatcher, who championed liberalism and a free-market economy, worked to dismantle trade unions and gave greater dominance to the private sector. On the other hand, some would argue that she deepened social inequality and increased dependence on the banking sector. In other words, during the 1980s in Britain, many people lamented what Thatcher’s policies had done to them. And if that wasn’t enough, the constant fear of nuclear war added to the everyday existential anxiety of the British public. As a result, protest songs and expressions of fear emerged, such as "(We Don’t Need This) Fascist Groove Thang" by "Heaven 17", "The Land of Make Believe" by "Bucks Fizz", and "Sowing the Seeds of Love" by "Tears for Fears". Taking it even further, Matt Johnson, under his stage name "The The", enlisted Johnny Marr and his guitar to sing to the British public in April 1989 about "The Beat(en) Generation". Johnson, with his characteristic nonchalance, performed on Top of the Pops, urging listeners to open their eyes and imagination, while criticizing a youth misled by greedy politicians and half-truths. But the 1980s came to an end, and with them the reign of the Iron Lady. Slowly, the British began to free themselves and rediscover the positive side of their kingdom. The Madchester movement got them dancing with rhythmic music from bands that blended psychedelic rock and dance, such as "Primal Scream", "Happy Mondays", and "The Stone Roses". From the Madchester scene emerged and evolved the “baggy” style, combining funk, psychedelia, rock, and house music, along with a distinctive fashion of colorful T-shirts, bucket hats, and baggy pants. One of those bands was "Blur." "Blur" were formed in 1989 in London, with their home base in Colchester. In August 1991, they released their debut album "Leisure", produced by Stephen Street ("The Smiths"), but aside from the single "There’s No Other Way", which reached the UK Top 10, it failed to leave a lasting mark. What it did leave behind, however, was a £60,000 debt under their label "Food Records". In an attempt to offset the losses, the band was sent on a U.S. tour. American audiences, immersed in the rise of Grunge at the time, didn’t connect with the British bounce and lack of seriousness. Damon Albarn summed up that tour by saying that the only positive thing was discovering the beauty of songs by "The Kinks". While "Blur" were “enjoying” America, a wave of British rock bands began to emerge, including "Suede", "Pulp", "Echobelly", "Elastica", "The Verve", The Boo Radleys, "James", "Lush", and "Oasis". Their styles didn’t always overlap, but they were all grouped under one category: Britpop. Britpop became the antithesis of American grunge, pushing back against the growing influence of American music and culture on British popular culture. "Blur's" second album, "Modern Life Is Rubbish", released in May 1993, served as preparation for the real breakthrough that would arrive less than a year later. Frontman Damon Albarn went on holiday to Magaluf, Spain, with his then-girlfriend Justine Frischmann of Elastica. According to Albarn, the town was filled with sticky, Essex-style nightclubs and young people constantly searching for sexual encounters. Inspired by that sense of hedonism, Albarn wrote "Girls & Boys". The song was released in March 1994 as the first single from their third album "Parklife". Its optimistic and catchy melody resonated with fans, eventually reaching number five on the UK charts. This marked a significant achievement for Blur, becoming their most successful single at the time. The success of "Girls & Boys" played a central role in boosting the band’s popularity, and the song was named Single of the Year by both "NME" and Melody Maker in 1994. The music video, directed by Kevin Godley ("10cc"), perfectly captured the song’s mix of fun and sleaze. Godley described the video as "Page 3 Rubbish", and the single’s cover was taken from a pack of "Durex" condoms. This was the opening shot for an album that brought together a collection of songs in a wide range of styles, all centered around everyday life in Britain. The tracks move between rock and synth-pop, an instrumental waltz, punk rock, dance, Francophile baroque pop, and even an experimental spacey sound on the only track where Damon Albarn does not sing, "Far Out" (featuring the voice of bassist Alex James). The second single, the beautiful "To the End", is a delicate and melancholic orchestral ballad that portrays a relationship trying to survive a crisis but slowly falling apart. The song stands out благодаря its rich orchestral arrangement and the French vocals of Laetitia Sadier, which add a romantic yet distant European atmosphere. Although it was not a major hit (ironically, it received significant airplay in Israel), it is considered one of the most complex and elegant moments on the album. The album was called "Parklife", but the title track "Parklife" was not originally intended to appear on it. Actor Phil Daniels, best known for his role in the film "Quadrophenia" (by "The Who"), was initially meant to deliver spoken narration on the instrumental "The Debt Collector". Only after Damon Albarn failed to write a suitable piece did they move Daniels to perform on "Parklife" instead. Graham Coxon later recalled that many people saw the song as a celebration of Englishness, but in reality, it was deeply sarcastic. He explained that it was not about the working class, but about what he described as the “park class” people like garbage collectors, pigeon feeders, and joggers, the everyday figures they would see on their way to the studio in Fulham. During the song, you can hear Graham Coxon playing part of the German national anthem on saxophone. He had originally been a saxophonist when he first met Damon Albarn, but this was the only time he played the instrument for "Blur". Albarn drew lyrical inspiration from the novel London Fields by Martin Amis. The fourth single "End of a Century" portrays a relationship gradually losing its spark as the couple grows older and drifts apart. The opening line, about ants in the carpet and small, dirty creatures consuming everything and piling up the mess, was written by Justine Frischmann of "Elastica", who was Albarn’s partner at the time. The lyrics seem to reflect the approaching end of the millennium, highlighting how people become preoccupied with the future instead of dealing with the present. On the final single "Tracy Jacks", we are introduced to Tracy Jacks, a civil servant going through a midlife crisis, displaying erratic behavior such as stripping naked on a beach. The beach scene described in the song’s second verse was inspired by the BBC sitcom The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin, which follows a bored businessman who fakes his own death by leaving his clothes on the beach. In "Magic America", "Blur" settle an old score with the Americans, a lingering memory from their nightmarish 1992 U.S. tour. The lyrics focus on how many people dream of traveling to America and see it as a land of opportunity, shaped largely by television, only to discover that reality is very different once they actually arrive. Originally, the album was supposed to be called "London", and its cover was planned to feature a fruit and vegetable cart. After the necessary change, the album artwork was also reimagined to reflect one of the British public’s favorite pastimes, greyhound racing. For Listening: Spotify, Apple Music "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

Fish is without a doubt one of the leading singers in the neo-progressive genre. He's mostly known from the band "Marillion", but he also has a glorious solo career. (Photo: Fish Website) 1. He was born in Edinburgh Scotland on 25 April 1958 as Derek William Dick. 2. As a child he was influenced by artists such as "Genesis", "Pink Floyd", "the Moody Blues", "the Kinks", "T. Rex", David Bowie, and more. 3. In addition Derek Dick has been greatly influenced by singer Joni Mitchellת when it comes to lyrics writing. 4. The first show he ever saw was of the band "Yes", in 1974. 5. In his youth, Derek Dick worked as a gas station attendant and later as a gardener. 6. In the years 1977-1980 he worked as a lumberjack, where he was nicknamed "Fish" by his employer which refers to the number of times he would shower. 7. The first time he performed as a singer was in 1980, it was at a local pub. 8. In 1981 he joined "Marillion" and already in July of that year he recorded with them demos and first versions of the songs "He Knows You Know", "Garden Party"ת that will appear on the band's debut album, plus another song that will be released as a single "Charting the Single". 9. The band's first opportunity came when they were invited to the "Friday Rock Show" on BBC Radio, where they played the songs "The Web", "Three Boats Down from The Candy" and "Forgotten Sons". 10. The exposure led to the interest of the EMI Records which signed them on a recording contract. 11. The band's first single "Market Square Heroes" was released in 1982, when the song "Grendel" appeared as a b-side. 12. The material for the first album was written by the band during their many performances. The album "Script For A Jester’s Tear" released in March 1983, received rave reviews and the band received the credit for being responsible for reviving the progressive genre. 13. The comparison to "Genesis" and the attempt of Fish to sound like Peter Gabriel, was especially inevitable because he used to put on make-up, dress up in costumes and present the songs in a very theatrical way, as in the song "Forgotten Sons" where Fish used to dress up as a soldier. 14. Fish's singing style was different and unique, a sort of combination of Peter Gabriel's softness with Roger Daltrey's savagery, with Peter Hamill's influences. 15. The band's big break into the mainstream came with the concept album "Misplaced Childhood" from 1985, the band's third album, which included the hit "Kayleigh" among others. 16. In 1986, Fish was featured on the song "Shortcut to Somewhere" from keyboardist Tony Banks' "Soundtracks" album. This is a compilation album of tracks that Banks wrote for two films. 17. The band's popularity grew with the release of their fourth album "Clutching at Straws" which was released in 1987. But at the same time, there were frictions related to the musical direction the band would go on, as well as disagreements over finances and especially Fish's resentment over the band's manager. 18. The frictions led to Fish leaving the band, mainly because the band supported their manager. 19. His last appearance with the band was at "Craigtoun Country Park", on July 23, 1988. 20. In 1990 Fish embarked on his solo career with the excellent album "Vigil in a Wilderness of Mirrors". Already on this album the change in the musical direction compared to "Marillion" was noticeable, with Fish combining influences of Celtic music, folk, pop, and hard rock. 21. It is interesting to note that the song "View From The Hill" from the album was co-written with guitarist Janick Gers, (later from "Iron Maiden"), who also plays it. 22. In 1991, Fish was featured on two songs from keyboardist Tony Banks's album. This time he also co-wrote with Bank one of the songs - "Another Murder of a Day". 23. Fish's second album "Internal Exile" from 1991 deepened the Celtic influences, as also shown on the album cover. 24. In the song "Internal Exile" Fish expresses his pride in his homeland - Scotland and his strong aspiration for its independence. 25. His third album “Songs from the Mirror” was a cover album in which he paid tribute to artists who influenced him like "Genesis", David Bowie, "The Moody Blues", and "Pink Floyd", "The Kinks", "T-Rex" and more. 26. Fish has released 11 studio albums as part of his solo career. His latest double and excellent album "Weltschmerz" was released in September 2020. He retired from music following a farewell tour completed in March 2025. 27. In 2008, Fish began airing a weekly radio show called "Fish on Friday", on "Planet Rock" radio station. When the station ran into financial difficulties he purchased it along with Tony Iommi, Ian Anderson, and Gary Moore. 28. In parallel with his musical career Fish has an acting career in TV series. (Photo: Daily Mail) 29. Not many know but this career was supposed to start in 1986 so Fish got an offer for a role in the movie "Highlander" starring Christopher Lambert and Sean Connery. "Marillion" was also scheduled to participate in the film's soundtrack, but "Marillion" and Fish declined these offers, which led to "Queen's" participating in the soundtrack instead. 30. Fish married three times. His first wife - German model Tamara Nowy appears in video clips for the songs "Kayleigh", "Lady Nina" and "A Gentleman's Excuse Me". Link to A collection album from his solo career: Here. "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website

On the 24 of April 1989 "Black Sabbath" released her 14th studio album - "Headless Cross". Depending on what day you ask us, but we'll usually tell you that this is the band's best album with singer Tony Martin, and it's not a trivial statement. Martin is the singer who's released the most albums with the band, apart from Ozzy Osbourne. This is the band's first album with legendary drummer Cozy Powell, and "Black Sabbath's" only album featuring such an important personality as Brian May - "Queen's" guitarist. So let's tell you a little bit about the process of creating the album that rarely happened. Why hardly happen? Because since the departure of Ronnie James Dio in 1982, "Black Sabbath" has not really enjoyed success. The album "Born Again" with singer Ian Gillan raised a lot of expectations ahead of his release, but received mixed reviews after his release, most of which were negative. Geezer and Bill Ward subsequently abandoned the ship, leaving Tony Iommi to navigate the ship alone in the icy 1980s metal sea. When he sought to release a solo album he was forced by the record company to name the album "Seventh Star" from 1986 under the brand of "Black Sabbath". This turned out to be a mistake that led to bad Reviews of the album by most critics. Immediately afterward Glenn Hughes left and was replaced by singer Ray Gillen in the middle of the tour, but he too did not survive in the band and was replaced by singer Tony Martin during the recordings of the album "The Eternal Idol", which also failed to revive the band's shuffling career Which at the time relied entirely on Tony Iommi's reputation. The unfortunate sequence of events described above, led the record company Vertigo to give up Black Sabbath in an extreme move. To understand the magnitude of the shock we will note that Vertigo has been the band's record company since its inception. For 18 years "Black Sabbath" went with Vertigo in fire and water. Vertigo went through a great crisis following the dismissal of Ozzy Osbourne, enjoyed the band's resurgence during the Dio era, and served as a loyal peg to the band on the slippery slope in which it deteriorated after his departure. But apparently this time it was enough for vertigo. In this situation, it was easiest for Tony Iommi to give up. He was left alone in, without any of the original band members and without the record company that had accompanied him throughout the years. But luckily Tony Iommi did not give up and managed to sign a contract with the record company I.R.S. Records, which was managed by Miles Copeland, who gave him confidence and encouraged him to continue writing and creating. It should be noted that the uncertainty that grew after the release of the album "The Eternal Idol" together with the fact that the band was thrown out of the Vertigo company, led the singer Tony Martin to take a break from Black Sabbath and join the Forcefield supergroup that included drummer Cozy Powell. Towards the middle of 1988 and following Tony Iommi's signing with "I.R.S.", Tony Martin returned to "Black Sabbath" and brought with him drummer Cozy Powell, followed by Tony Iommi. Powell and Iommi began writing the material for the album at Tony Martin's house when Tony Martin joins them for rehearsals. It should be noted that at one point Iommi wanted to record the album with Ronnie James Dio, but it was Cozy Powell who convinced him to stay with Tony Martin. (Photo: I.R.S.) Iommi also tried to recruit bassist Geezer Butler who expressed his desire to return to the band, but Butler eventually preferred to accompany Ozzy Osbourne during a tour designed to promote the album "No Rest for the Wicked". This album is absolutely not Ozzy's classic "Sabbath", it's not even Dio's "Sabbath" era although Martin's tone of voice reminds us of him, but it's definitely the album that can best define Tony Martin's "Black Sabbath". Listening to this album gives us the feeling that Martin's powerful voice is the one leading all the songs, with the rest of the instruments serving as the basis and a fertile cushion on which Martin can develop the deep roars, powerful howls, and melodies so beautiful in his singing. Not that Iommi does not give a tremendous and iconic guitar performance here, nor does it in any way detract from the powerful and dominant drumming of Cozy Powell, who also co-produced the album with Iommi, but Martin is undoubtedly revealed here as the "Outstanding Player". Not only did he write all the lyrics and also participate in the composition, but he is also the leading force behind the songs on the album, which sweeps the entire band forward with him. What allows Martin to stand out so much here is, among other things, the fact that Geezer Butler's place was absent from the album, otherwise, his dominant and heavy playing would surely have obscured Martin's mighty and powerful voice. The bass was played by session bassist Laurence Cottle, who comes from a jazz background in general, dresses precisely on Martin's voice and allows him to navigate more easily between the notes and above the rhythm, giving some of his greatest vocal performances. Another push that highlights Martin's abilities and adds to the overall gothic vibe that hovers over the album lies in Geoff Nicholls' clever and beautiful keyboard playing. This album has epic anthems, like the theme song "Headless Cross", which it's riff and vibe remind us of "Heaven and Hell" from the Dio era. The song is based on a true story that happened in the Middle Ages. While the plague was raging in Europe, it also reached a small village called "Cross Head". The villagers who tried to remove the curse went to the "headless cross" hill, where they prayed to God for help, but no one survived. Other great songs are "When Death Calls" which features Brian May's guitar solo and the semi-ballad "Nightwing" in which Iommi makes a nostalgic use of classical guitar. On the other hand, you can find light, rhythmic, and 80's compatible metal songs, such as "Black Moon" written while Ray Gillan was still the singer. This song was released as a b-side for the single "The Eternal Idol" from the previous album, but re-recorded for this album. The song "Call of the Wild" Which was supposed to be called "Hero", but its name was changed at the last minute because Ozzy's album "No Rest for the Wicked" which came out shortly before, included a song of the same name, and of course "Devil & Daughter" originally called "Devil's Daughter" also changed at the last minute for exactly the same reason. These songs are all enjoying the minimalist but definitely enriching playing of keyboardist Geoff Nicholls. So if you're curious to know what the Tony Martin era of "Black Sabbath" sounds like, this album is definitely a great place to start. For Listening: Spotify, YouTube: "Face/Off" - Israel's Rock Blog Follow us on Facebook / Instagram or Subscribe to our website