U.D.O.: Różnice pomiędzy wersjami

Z Nonsensopedii, polskiej encyklopedii humoru
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[[Plik:Udo Dirkschneider.jpg|200px|thumb|Jedyny i niepodzielny wódz]]
=Muzycy=
'''U.D.O.''' (także '''Udo Dirkschneider's Orgy<ref>[[język polski|pol]]. Orgia Udo Dirkschneidera</ref>''') – [[Niemcy|niemiecki]] zespół założony przez <del>Piszczel</del> <del>Kolano</del> [[Udo Dirkschneider]]a po tym jak członkom [[Accept]]u znudził się jego głos przypominający pracującą wiertarkę.
==Udo Dirkschneider==
Przez wiele lat wokalista [[Accept]]u. Niezwykle rozpoznawalny dzięki swojemu charakterystycznemu, przypominającemu dźwięk wiertarki udarowej głosowi. Dzięki niemu stał się wzorcem do naśladowania dla wokalistów [[Black metal|blackmetalowych]], jak na razie niedoścignionym. Niejaki Nergal zaprosił go nawet kiedyś do wspólnego nagrywania albumu. Niestety poczuł się do tego stopnia zawstydzony marnością swojego [[growl]]u, że nie zezwolił na wydanie tejże płyty. Hitlersynek postanowił jednak nie odpuścić tego tak łatwo i prawdopodobnie nagrania z jego udziałem znajdą się na planowanym na maj 2012 albumie ''Celebrator''.


== Historia ==
Zapytany o wielką tajemnice swojego niezwykłego głosu, Dirkschneider zaczął świecić na niebiesko i cytować ''Mein Kampf''. Jeśli przyjąć, że był wtedy poczytalny, to za barwę jego głosu, tak jak za [[wszystko]] odpowiedzialni są Żydzi.
Początek zespołu datuje się na moment wydania pierwszego albumu. To makabryczne wydarzenie miało miejsce w 1987. Choć na albumie grają już muzycy U.D.O., to cały materiał napisany został przez członków Accept, co przejawia się w jej brzmieniu.


Już od samego początku zespół posiadał tendencje do ustawicznych zmian składu, skutkiem czego każdy następny album był nagrywany w innym składzie. Po pewnym czasie sam Dirkschneider doszedł do wniosku, że taka zabawa jest bez sensu i w 1992 wrócił do Acceptu.
Prywatnie Dirkschneider uważa się za nazistę, co wyraża nosząc czarną kurtkę ze [[Swastyka|znakiem słońca]] na ramieniu.
==Wolf Hofffman==
Najlepszy, najwspanialszy i w ogóle naj... niemiecki gitarzysta. Od wielu lat lider zespołu [[Accept]]. Znany z tego, że wymyślił [[speed metal]] i potrafił zagrać na gitarze ''Dla Elizy''. Ostatnio zagrał też hymn Rosji. Putin zapowiada protest za zrównywanie jakiegoś tam niemieckiego kompozytorka z wielkim, natchnionym przez rewolucję]] rosyjskim twórcą hymnu. Postanowił przy tym przemilczeć dyskretnie fakt, że rosyjski hymn jest [[cover]]em ''God save the King/Queen''.
==Mark Tornillo==
Nowy wokalista Acceptu. Mimo to jest już starym dziadem. Przez całe lata osiemdziesiąte i dziewięćdziesiąte śpiewał bowiem w chałowych amerykańskich zespołach, które nie odniosły najmniejszego sukcesu. Nie posiada co prawda wiertarki udarowej w gębie, ale w [[Accept|Accepcie]] radzi sobie nieźle.
==Michael Weikath==
Eksportowa wersja [[Ritchie Blackmore|Blackmore'a]], przynajmniej jeśli chodzi o charakter, bo z talentem u niego momentami cienko. Wyrzuca innych muzyków z [[Helloween]] tak często, że rodzi to spekulacje, że jest bękartem angielskiego gitarzysty z czasów, gdy ten przebywał w Niemczech. W przeciwieństwie do Blackmore'a do wyrzucania członków zespołu nie używa już siekiery, tylko nowoczesnego środka przekazu, jakim jest [[e-mail]].Wyznaje zasadę: ''Helloween to ja''.
==Markus Grosskopf==
Basista [[Helloween]], zdaniem niektórych prawie tak dobry jak [[Steve Harris]]. Jako jedyny nie został jeszcze wyrzucony przez Weikatha, ale być może to dlatego, że się nigdy nie odzywa, a swój pierwszy i jak na razie jedyny utwór skomponował w 2003 na płytę ''Rabbit Don,t Come Easy''. Posiada własny projekt ''Bassinvaders'', z którym wydał jedną płytę. Projekt ów wyróżnia się tym, że zwyczajową rolę gitary przejęła jej basowa wersja.
==Michel Kiske==
Jedyny słuszny wokalista [[Helloween]], który zasłynął głosem tak wysokim, że zawstydził nawet [[Rob Halford|Halforda]]. Być może mógłby po nim objąć posadę Boga Metalu, zwłaszcza że skalą głosu przewyższał [[Queen#Frontman|Freddie'go Mercury'ego]], gdyby nie fakt, że olał sobie metal, gdy został z tegoż Helloweeen wyrzucony. Od tego czasu nagrywał solowe płyty utrzymane w klimacie gitarowego popu (nie licząc występów w [[Avantasia|Avantasii]], a jego popularność ustawicznie spadała, zapewne przez charakterystyczną czapeczkę, którą nosił na koncertach, aż do momentu,w którym odkrył, że nie stać go na taksówkę. Wypłakał się wtedy [[Kai Hansen|Hansenowi]] w ramię, który z litości pomógł mu założyć zespół [[Unisonic]] (i z litości zapłacił za taksówkę).
==Roland Grapow==
Rusek, który zastąpił [[Kai Hansen|Hansena]] jako [[solowy wymiatacz]] w [[Helloween]], z którego zresztą został dziesięć lat później wyrzucony ([[e-mail]]em rzecz jasna]]. Z rozpaczy założył z [[Jørn Lande|Jørnem Lande]] zespół [[Masterplan]]. Ma kompleksy wobec [[Yngwie Malmsteen|Yngwiego Malmsteena]].
==Andreas Deris==
Następca [[Michael Kiske|Kiskego]] w [[Helloween]]. Z racji kompletnie innych warunków głosowych wykonywane przez niego na koncertach utwory brzmią cokolwiek śmiesznie. Aby mogły zabrzmieć też śmiesznie w studiu [[Michael Weikath]] wymyślił sobie nagrać coś o nazwie ''Unarmed:Best of 25th Anniversary''. Wcześniej Andi śpiewał w zespole ''Pink Cream 69'' i wydał nawet z nimi trzy płyty.
==Ulrich Kusch==
Perkusista najpierw [[Gamma Ray]], a potem, na prośbę samego [[Kai Hansen|Hansena]], [[Helloween]]. Po paru latach zresztą z tegoż Helloween wyleciał razem z pewnym Ruskiem. Uli jest standardowym niemieckim perkusistą, czyli raz zaprogramowany potrafi grać tylko jedną melodię, stąd brak zmian tempa w utworach powermetalowych.
==Hansi Kürsch==
Wokalista [[Blind Guardian]]. Uwielbia barwę własnego głosu dlatego, wzorem [[Queen#Frontman|Freddiego Mercury'ego]] zwielokrotnia go podczas produkcji albumów (tj. chórki powstają nałożenie na siebie tej samej partii wokalnej w minimalnym rozsunięciu czasowym. Jest też wielkim fanem [[Władca Pierścieni|Władcy Pierścieni]] i czasem zdaje mu się, że jest [[hobbit]]em.
==André Olbrich==
Gitarzysta [[Blind Guardian]]. Nie potrafi zagrać własnych solówek (gra je za niego [[Kai Hansen]]), gdyż powstają poprzez dogrywanie poszczególnych fragmentów podczas produkcji albumów. Mimo to jest uznawany za jednego z lepszych niemieckich gitarzystów.
==Thomas Stauch==
Były perkusista [[Blind Guardian]]. Jest przeciwieństwem standardowego niemieckiego perkusisty i potrafi zmieniać tempo w czasie trwania utworu. Czasem nawet zespół pozwalał mu zagrać solówkę na koncercie. W 2005 stwierdził jednak, że dzieje się tak zdecydowanie za rzadko i odszedł szukać sobie szczęścia w innym zespole. Jak na razie bez sukcesu.
==Ralf Scheepers==
Śpiewak prowadzący najpierw [[Gamma Ray]], potem [[Primal Fear]]. Ma kompleks niższości wobec [[Rob Halfor|Halforda]], który wzmógł się dodatkowo w momencie, gdy przegrał casting na wokalistę [[Judas Priest]] z [[Tim Owens|Timem Owensem]], gdy rzeczony Halford strzelił focha. Na dodatek, gdy Scheepers starał się o posadę [[Kaai Hansen|Hansen]] nagrał z Gamma Ray album z własnym wokalem i stwierdził, że nie chce oglądać więcej Ralfa na oczy. Scheepers trafił wtedy do Primal Fear, gdzie śpiewa do dziś.
==Mat Sinner==
Basista i lider [[Primal Fear]]. Czasem pomaga [[Ralf Scheepers|Scheepersowi]] śpiewać. Ma też własny zespół o nazwie ''Sinner'', tj. ''Grzesznik''.
==Tobias Sammet==
Wokalista zespołu [[Edguy]] i lider projektu [[Avantasia]]. Zbliżony możliwościami wokalnymi do [[Bruce Dickinson|Bruce'a Dickinsona]] i uważany za jego godnego następcę. Nabił sobie jednak do głowy, że będzie naśladował [[Michael Kiske|Kiskego]], co wychodzi mu delikatnie mówiąc śmiesznie. Sammet grał też na basie na pierwszych albumach Edguya, ale w pewnym momencie stwierdził, że mu się nie chce.
==Jørn Lande==
Szwedzka wersja [[Whitesnake|Davida Coverdale'a]]. Śpiewał nawet w zespole ''The Snakes'', założonym przez byłego gitarzystę BiałegoWęża. Z czasem jednak doszedł do wniosku, że <s>chciałby stworzyć coś własnego</s> naśladować [[Ronnie James Dio|Dio]] niż Coverdale'a. Światową sławę przyniósł mu album ''Dio'', na którym nagrał dziewięć piosenek idola i jedną dedykowaną mu (''Song for Ronnie James''). Dzięki temu zaśpiewał też na pożegnalnym koncercie [[Black Sabbath#Historia zespołu|Heaven & Hell]]


Wydawać by się mogło, że to już definitywny koniec zespołu, ale zaledwie pięć lat później Dirkschneider ponownie opuścił Accept. Tym razem zaprosił do U.D.O. także perkusistę Stefana Kaufmanna, któremu powierzył dość awangardowo rolę gitarzysty. Duet gitarowy stworzył z nim [[Szwajcaria|Szwajcar]] Igor Gianola, a rolę basisty przejął znany już z wcześniejszego składu Fitty Weinhold. Perkusista, co prawda, dalej był zmieniany systematycznie, ale można mówić o jakiejś stabilizacji składu. Tak nagrywali kolejne albumy, odchodząc powoli od klasycznego brzmienia Acceptu w stronę czegoś nowocześniejszego. Zaskoczenie przyszło w 2010, gdy Accept zaprezentował [[Blood of the Nations|nowy album]], który miał zbliżone brzmienie. Rozgoryczony tym Dirkschneider wywalił gitarzystów i przygotował nowy album o znacznie miększym brzmieniu, przywodzącym na myśl [[Gamma Ray]].
Oprócz tego Jørn udziela się w [[Avantasia|Avantasii]] i jest wokalistą [[Masterplan]]u.
==Piet Sielck==
W młodym wieku wyjechał do Stanów, bo zamarzyło mu się zostać producentem muzycznym. Niestety nie odniósł za oceanem większych sukcesów i wrócił do Europy. Tu założył z pomocą [[Kai Hansen|Hansena]] zespół [[Iron Savior]], któremu przewodzi do dziś. Wyróżnia się bardzo charakterystycznym śpiewem przywodzącym na myśl rannego niedźwiedzia. Jest też stosunkowo kiepskim gitarzystą.
=Zespoły=
==U.D.O.==
Zespół założony przez [[Udo Dirkschneider]]a po tym jak opuścił on [[Accept]]. Stało się tak ''z powodu różnic w poglądach dotyczących kierunku, w którym powinna podążać muzyka zespołu''. Jest to dość charakterystyczne twierdzenie, jeśli wziąć pod uwagę, że U.D.O. gra niemal dokładnie to samo co Accept. Chociaż nie, rosyjskiego hymnu nie grają.
==Stratovarius==
==Edguy==
Zespół założony przez grupkę kolegów ze szkoły. Jego nazwa pochodzi od przezwiska jakim obdarzyli swojego nauczyciela matematyki w liceum. Aby się wylansować sięgali po pomoc wielu znanych muzyków takich jak [[Hansi Kursch]] czy [[Michael Kiske]]. Muzycznie powielają z reguły pierwsze płyty [[Helloween]]. Na tle innych zespołów powermetalowych wyróżnia go zaskakująca obfitość instrumentów klawiszowych (to ktoś jeszcze pamięta, że jest coś takiego jak ''klawisze''!?).
==Avantasia==
Rewolucyjny projekt [[Tobias Sammet|Tobiasa Sammeta]], tak przynajmniej zapowiadało się po premierze pierwszego albumu. Sammet zagonił do roboty najlepszych instrumentalistów i kilku uznanych wokalistów i nagrał coś co nazwał metalową operą. Brzmiało to całkiem przyzwoicie, po wydaniu drugiej płyty zespół stracił parę, pomimo że współpracą z nim zainteresowały się całkiem znane postaci takie jak Klaus Maine czy Tim Owens. Niestety w międzyczasie [[Michael Kiske|Kiskemu]] znudziło się śpiewać i to najpewniej jest przyczyna upadku projektu.
==Demons & Wizards==
Dość charakterystyczny twór mogący pochwalić się dwupłytowym dorobkiem. Składa się z [[Hansi Kursch|Hobbita]] i gitarzysty [[Iced Earth]] Jona Schaffera. Grają [[Power Metal]] z elementami [[Heavy metal]], a teksty ich utworów dotyczą najczęściej literatury fantastycznej.
==Masterplan==
Szwedzko-niemiecki zespół [[power metal|powermetalowy]]. Dość charakterystyczny biorąc pod uwagę, że ma na składzie tylko jednego gitarzystę, a rolę drugiego przejął klawiszowiec. Przez to wiele utworów brzmi jak podróbka [[Disco polo]].
==Dream Evil==
Szwedzki zespół założony przez producenta, w związku z czym gra odtwórczą, skrajnie komercyjną wersję [[Power metal|power metalu]]. W pewnym momencie podczas nagrywania pierwszej płyty uśpić jego czujność i stworzyć cudo o nazwie ''The Book of Heavy Metal (March of Metallians)'', która to piosenka stanowi unikalne połączenie Power metalu z [[Death metal|death metalem]]. Stosunkowo ciężkim momentem dla zespołu było odejście w 2009 gitarzysty Gusa G., który zaczął grać w zespole [[Ozzy Osbourne|Ozzy'iego Osbourne'a]].
==Iced Earth==
Amerykański zespół założony przez dwóch policjantów, przyrodnich braci zresztą, grający coś pomiędzy [[thrash metal|thrashe]] a [[power metal]]em. Jest niezwykle amerykanocentryczny, dlatego w Europie mało kto o nim słyszał. Niemniej w pewnym momencie, gdy policjant robiący za wokalistę stwierdził, że mu się nie chce, wydali całkiem sympatyczny album z Timem Owensem jako wyjcem. Co prawda dotyczył on dalej amerykańskiej historii, ale widać nie można mieć wszystkiego.
==Unisonic==
Zespół [[Kai Hansen|Kaia Hansena]] i [[Michael Kiske|Michaela Kiskego]]. Miał być wielkim powrotem do czasów [[helloween]]owych [[Keeper of the Seven Keys|Kiperów]], a wyszło jak zwykle. Mamy rżnięcie na całego z [[Ritchie Blackmore|Blackmore'a]] i to na dodatek jakieś niedorobione takie.
=Płyty=
==Restless and Wild==
'''''Restless and Wild''''' is the fourth [[album]] by the [[Germany|German]] [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Accept]], released in 1982 in Continental Europe and in 1983 in the US and UK. It was the first Accept album to not be recorded at Delta-Studio, the band moving to [[Dieter Dierks|Dieter Dierks']] studio in [[Stommeln]]. It is also the first Accept album in which [[Udo Dirkschneider]] sings every track, as well as the first in which manager Gaby Hauke ("Deaffy") gains credits for songwriting. [[Michael Wagener]] took engineering and mixing duties once again.


== Skład zespołu ==
==Album information==
Wymienienie wszystkich członków zespołu zeżarłoby całe zasoby serwera Nonsensopedii, dlatego nie ujawni się ich tutaj. Zresztą, dla większości fanów i tak liczy się tylko Dirkschneider.
[[Jan Koemmet]] joined the band briefly before the release of this album, but did not participate in the recording.<ref>Interview on Metallian website</ref><ref>Answer in the Ask Udo section of www.udo-online.de</ref> The guitar on the finished product is done by [[Wolf Hoffmann]] alone, although [[Herman Frank]] had joined the band by the time the album was released, and is credited on the album cover.


== Dyskografia ==
The album is best known for the opening track, "[[Fast as a Shark]]", considered among the first speed metal songs.
* '''Animal House''' (''Dom dla zwierząt'', 1987) – niejaki [[Lordi]] twierdzi, e ta płyta zmieniła jego życie i sprawiła, że zaczął ubierać się w skóry i grać heavy metal. Utwory takie same jak Acceptu, bo pisane przez jego członków.
* '''Mean Machine''' (''Machina znaczeń'', 1988) – tutaj, co prawda, nie ma już śladu po Accepcie, ale mimo to cała płyta brzmi tak samo jak poprzednia.
* '''Faceless World''' (''Świat bez twarzy'', 1990) – również ''nihil novi''. Płytka taka jak jej tytuł – bez twarzy.
* '''Timebomb''' (''Bomba zegarowa'', 1991) – a tu Accept powoli się wlewa z powrotem. Deaffy, pisząca teksty dla nich, objawiła się i tutaj. Mimo to album odchodzi od poprzedniej stylistyki. Jest znacznie bardziej [[mrok|mroczny]].
* '''Solid''' (''Lity'', 1997) – pierwszy album Dirkschneidera po opuszczeniu Acceptu. W zasadzie to samo.
* '''No Limits''' (''Bez limitów'', 1998) – tu dalej kisi się klasyczny Accept. Udo proponuje nam też wspólne polowanie na ludzi.
* '''Holy''' (Święty, 1999) – to samo, co wcześniej.
* '''Man and Machine''' (''Człowiek i maszyna'', 2002) – a tu już znacznie ciężej, choć bez przesady. Płyta przesycona kryzysem wieku średniego.
* '''Thunderball''' (''Piorun kulisty'', 2004) – a tu jest już zupełnie inaczej niż jeszcze dwie płyty temu. Ciężko i mrocznie, a do tego Udo coraz bardziej charczy<ref>Tak, to możliwe!</ref>.
* '''Mission No. X''' (''Misja nr X'', 2005) – tu z kolei miało być mrocznie, ale przez takie, a nie inne teksty, wyszło jak zwykle.
* '''Mastercutor''' (''Mistrzowski kastrator'', 2007) – ciężko, mrocznie, gdzie nie spojrzeć tam piekło i szatany. A także coraz bardziej chrypnący wokalista.
* '''Dominator''' (''[[Mariusz Pudzianowski|Pudzian]]'', 2009) – a tutaj ciężkość osiąga apogeum. Nawet ballady mają gitarę w stylu [[Candlemass]].
* '''Rev-raptor''' (''[[Reptilianie|Reptilianin]]'', 2011) – a tutaj do tego Dirkschneider zaczyna opiewać [[Josef Mengele|doktora Mengele]], kolegę taty z wojska.
* '''Steelhammer''' (''Stalowy młotek'', 2013) – a tu dla odmiany power metal w stylu Gamma Ray. Co prawda, Udo nie zaśpiewał nagle słowiczym trelem, ale nie można mieć przecież wszystkiego.
* '''Decadent''' (''Dekadencki'', 2015) – a tutaj jakby mniej wiertarki a więcej popisów nowych gitarzystów. Tytuł adekwatny do treści albumu.


== Zobacz też ==
Another well-known track is album closer "Princess Of The Dawn", a tense song that Udo describes as "a [[Cinderella]] story" and "like a [[The Lord of the Rings|Lord of the Rings]] [[fantasy]]" with no deep meaning. Wolf Hoffmann achieved the haunting [[mandolin]]-like effect by recording the guitar at half-speed, then having it played back at normal speed.[http://web.archive.org/web/20020208104455/wolfhoffmann.com/html/faq.html]. He describes the sudden ending as "an idea that didn't work so well."
* [[Accept]]
* [[Gamma Ray]]
* [[Udo Dirkschneider]]


{{Przypisy}}
Udo agrees with the general assessment of ''Restless and Wild'' as a landmark heavy metal record, calling it "surely the most important Accept album".[http://www.hardradio.com/2005news/news03240502.php3] Wolf's praise is more reserved, calling it "just another record" and adding, "Looking back maybe we think Fast As A Shark was the first speed metal song ever, but at the time we sorta just had fun and we didn't think it was anything dramatically new. Obviously, maybe what was so cool about this time was that we weren't thinking so much. We were just ballsy and tried to do things without having much to lose."


{{Power Metal}}
Versions of the album released outside Germany were issued with a different cover, replacing the picture of burning guitars with a shot of the band live in concert. American [[Death Metal]] band [[Cannibal Corpse]] has made a cover of the song "Demon's Night". It can be found on their EP [[Worm Infested]].


[[Kategoria:Zespoły metalowe]]
On January 25, 2011, the album was performed in its entirety at a special show in Switzerland.
[[Kategoria:Niemieckie zespoły]]

==Track listing==
# "[[Fast as a Shark]]" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes)</small> – 3:49
# "Restless and Wild" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes, Robert A. Smith-Diesel + Accept)</small> – 4:12
# "Ahead of the Pack" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes)</small> – 3:24
# "Shake Your Heads" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes)</small> – 4:17
# "Neon Nights" <small>(Deaffy, Robert A. Smith-Diesel + Accept)</small> – 6:02
# "Get Ready" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes, Robert A. Smith-Diesel + Accept)</small> – 3:41
# "Demon's Night" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes)</small> – 4:28
# "Flash Rockin' Man" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes)</small> – 4:28
# "Don't Go Stealin' My Soul Away" <small>(Hoffmann, Kaufmann, Dirkschneider, Baltes, Robert A. Smith-Diesel + Accept)</small> – 3:16
# "Princess of the Dawn" <small>(Deaffy, Robert A. Smith-Diesel + Accept)</small> – 6:16

==Credits==
* [[Udo Dirkschneider]] - vocals
* [[Wolf Hoffmann]] - Guitar
* [[Stefan Kaufmann (musician)|Stefan Kaufmann]] - Drums
* [[Peter Baltes]] - Bass
* [[Herman Frank]] - Guitar (credited, but didn't actually perform)

Photography + Design: Stefan Bôhle/Studio Icks


==Balls to the Wal==
'''''Balls to the Wall''''' is the fifth [[album]] by the [[Germany|German]] [[Heavy metal music|metal]] band [[Accept]]. European label Lark Records released the album in December 1983, but its [[United States|US]] release was delayed until a [[January 1984|month later]] as to not compete with the band's then-current album ''[[Restless and Wild]]'', which had arrived in the US in early 1983. It is the band's best known and highest-selling album, selling about two million copies worldwide,<ref name="martinpopoff.com">[http://www.martinpopoff.com/html/yeold_archives/accept.html http://www.martinpopoff.com/html/yeold_archives/accept.html]</ref> and is Accept's only record to attain [[Gold certification]] in America. The album's lead single, "[[Balls to the Wall (song)|Balls to the Wall]]", became Accept's signature tune and remains a metal anthem and trademark in the genre.

== Album information ==
Some of the album's success can no doubt be attributed to the publicity generated from the minor "gay metal" controversy that broke out upon its American release, due to the record's title and front cover being deemed by some as [[homoeroticism|homoerotic]], as well as the lyrics to "London Leatherboys" and "Love Child" appearing to concern [[homosexuality|homosexuals]].<ref name="martinpopoff.com"/> Guitarist [[Wolf Hoffmann]] was dismissive of the controversy, saying years later that "You Americans are so uptight about this. In Europe it was never a big deal...we just wanted to be controversial and different and touch on these touchy subjects, because it gave us good press and it worked fabulously, you know".<ref>[http://www.fullinbloommusic.com/wolfhoffman.html http://www.fullinbloommusic.com/wolfhoffman.html]</ref> Drummer [[Stefan Kaufmann (musician)|Stefan Kaufmann]] explained that many of the themes on the album were about oppressed minorities in general. "London Leatherboys" was really about [[Outlaw motorcycle club|bikers]], for example: "They're normal people, they just look different and they behave different. But they're normal people, another minority. And 'Love Child' was about gays, true, but it's basically about people who are suppressed."<ref name="martinpopoff.com"/> Concerning the homosexuality issues themselves, Kauffmann said in an interview with French magazine ''Enfer'' (n°7, 1983):

<blockquote>“It’s a phenomenon that should be taken into consideration. Because it exists on a wide scale and should be demystified. In fact, this is a phenomenon of society that needs to be taken as such. For a long time gay people have been considered as sick or insane. And yet, it’s time to respect these people, open our minds which are often closed."<ref> Original quote in french : « C’est une chanson qui traite de l’homosexualité. C'est un phénomène qu'il faut prendre en considération; car il existe à une grande échelle et il faut démystifier. En fait c'est un phénomène de société qu'il est nécessaire de prendre comme tel. Pendant longtemps les homosexuels ont été considérés comme des fous et des malades. Or il est temps de respecter ces gens là, d'ouvrir nos esprits qui sont souvent obtus » . Touchard Philippe, "Interview avec Stefan kaufmann", Enfer magazine, n°7, 1983, p. 9. Archives of Enfer Magazine issues and of the said interview can be found here : [http://france.metal.museum.free.fr/revues/enfer_magazine/07/page_09.htm] </ref></blockquote>

Hoffman's wife and lyricist Gaby Hauke also denied these controversies and accusations concerning the gay issue:

<blockquote>"Let me answer this and (the next) question in one, ok? I have been very rebellious and by no means I would have written anything "normal"! Never! The sexual question about the context of certain lyrics are mind games and pure interpretation from outsiders. This is a band who has as individuals -so little to do with controversy and absolutely nothing in particular with anything but being VERY straight"<ref>[http://pagesperso-orange.fr/maury.org/gaby_hoffmanneng.htm interview with Gaby Hauke]</ref></blockquote>

Critic [[Martin Popoff]] has declared ''Balls to the Wall'' the greatest metal album of the 1980s,<ref>Popoff,Martin. ''The Collector's Guide to Heavy Metal Volume 2: The Eighties.'' Toronto: Collector's Guide Publishing, 2005. p.429.</ref> praising the combination of smooth production, powerful guitar riffs and strong melodies that are found throughout the record. Professional wrestler [[Chris Jericho]]'s band, [[Fozzy]], did their own cover of the song ''Balls to the Wall'', as well.<ref name="martinpopoff.com"/> Amon Amarth also covered the song as a bonus track for their 2011 album: Surtur Rising.

== Track listing ==
* All titles composed by Accept
* All lyrics written by Accept + Deaffy

# "[[Balls to the Wall (song)|Balls to the Wall]]" - 5:45
# "London Leatherboys" - 3:57
# "Fight It Back" - 3:30
# "Head Over Heels" - 4:19
# "Losing More Than You've Ever Had" - 5:04
# "Love Child" - 3:35
# "Turn Me On" - 5:12
# "Losers and Winners" - 4:19
# "Guardian of the Night" - 4:25
# "Winter Dreams" - 4:45

There are 2 different remasters of this album. The first one is part of [[Sony]]'s 'The Metal Masters Series' & the 2nd one is part of the '[[BMG]] Remastered Edition'

'''2001 Remaster'''
* Head over Heels (live)
* Love Child (live)

'''2002 Remaster'''
* Up to the Limit (live)
* Head over Heels (live)

Both sets of songs are taken from [[Kaizoku-Ban]].

== Credits ==
* [[Udo Dirkschneider]] - Vocals
* [[Wolf Hoffmann]] - Guitar
* [[Herman Frank]] - Guitar
* [[Peter Baltes]] - Bass guitar
* [[Stefan Kaufmann (musician)|Stefan Kaufmann]] - Drums

== Production ==
Engineered by Louise Austin

Mixed by Michael Wagener

Published by BREEZE Music Gmbh/Oktave Alfred K.Schacht Musikverlage Hamburg

Management: Gaby Hauke

Design: Jean Lessenich

Photos: Dieter Eikelpoth

Cover Idea: Deaffy
==Blood of the Nations==
'''Blood of the Nations''' is [[Accept]]'s twelfth studio album. It is the band's first studio recording since 1996's ''[[Predator (album)|Predator]]'' and the first album to feature vocalist [[Mark Tornillo]] and drummer [[Stefan Schwarzmann]]. It is the first album without [[Udo Dirkschneider]] on vocals since ''[[Eat the Heat]]'' in 1989. This is also the first album to feature guitarist [[Herman Frank]] since ''[[Balls to the Wall]]'' in 1983.

===Additional credits===
<references group="additional credit" />

==Reception==
{{Album ratings
| title =Blood of The Nations
| subtitle =
| state =
<!-- Aggregate scores -->
| MC =
<!-- Reviewers -->
| rev1 =[[About.com]]
| rev1Score ={{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://heavymetal.about.com/od/accept/fr/Accept-Blood-Of-The-Nations-Review.htm | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Bowar | first = Chad | publisher = [[About.com]]}}</ref> | rev2 = [[Blabbermouth]]
| rev2Score ={{rating|8.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=2056 | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Alisoglu | first = Scott | work = [[Blabbermouth.net]] | publisher = [[Roadrunner Records|Roadrunner]]}}</ref>
| rev3 =[[Allmusic]]
| rev3Score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.allmusic.com/album/blood-of-the-nations-r1948077 | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Prato | first = Greg | work = [[Allmusic]] | publisher = [[Rovi Corporation]]}}</ref>
| rev4 = Lords of Metal
| rev4Score = 87/100<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.lordsofmetal.nl/showreview.php?id=16815&lang=en | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Roks | first = Sjak | publisher = Lords of Metal webzine}}</ref>
| rev5 =Stormbringer
| rev5Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stormbringer.at/reviews.php?id=5513 | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Samer | first = Sigfried | date = 11 August 2010 | publisher = Stormbringer webzine | language = German}}</ref>
| rev6 =Metal Psalter
| rev6Score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.metalpsalter.com/review_accept_blood_of_the_nations.html | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | date = 16 August 2010 | publisher = Metal Psalter webzine}}</ref>
| rev7 =Dangerdog Music Reviews
| rev7Score ={{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.dangerdog.com/2010-music-reviews/accept-blood-of-the-nations-review.php | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Hartranft | first = Craig | date = 23 August 2010 | publisher = Dangerdog Music Reviews}}</ref>
| rev8 = Metal Underground
| rev8Score ={{rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.metalunderground.com/reviews/details.cfm?releaseid=3810 | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Wels | first = Todd | date = 21 August 2010 | publisher = Metal Underground.com}}</ref>
| rev9 =Metal Assault
| rev9Score ={{rating|8.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.metalassault.com/Reviews/091410_Accept.php | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Brackett | first = Brianna | date = 14 September 2010 | publisher = Metal Assault.com}}</ref>
| rev10 =[[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]
| rev10Score ={{rating|8.5|10}}<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.bravewords.com/hardwares/1001664 | title = Blood of the Nations review | accessdate = 2011-04-13 | last = Lawson | first = Dom | publisher = [[Brave Words & Bloody Knuckles]]}}</ref>
| rev11 =
| rev11Score =
| rev12 =
| rev12Score =
}}

Since its release, ''Blood of the Nations'' has been met with positive reviews. Reviewer Scott Alisoglu of Blabbermouth.net reviewed the album positively saying that ''Blood of the Nations'' "is the shot in the arm that fans of traditional heavy metal needed", and gave the album 8.5 out of 10.<ref name="Blabbermouth.net">{{cite web | work= Blabbermouth.net| url=http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/showreview.aspx?reviewID=2056| title=ACCEPT Blood of the Nations (Nuclear Blast) | accessdate=2011-01-22}}</ref> The album also received a positive review from musicreview.co.za, with reviewer Sergio Pereira saying that "This isn’t about 3 minute radio-friendly singles, ''Blood of the Nations'' is about metal – cold hard metal", and noting that minute-long solos, such as the one in the album track 'Pandemic', are rare in current music.<ref name="musicreviewZA">{{cite web | work= musicreview.co.za| url=http://www.musicreview.co.za/2010/10/05/review-accept-blood-of-the-nations/| title=Review: Accept – Blood Of The Nations | accessdate=2011-01-22}}</ref>

==Personnel==
* [[Mark Tornillo]] - Lead vocals
* [[Wolf Hoffmann]] - Lead and Rhythm Guitars
* [[Herman Frank]] - Rhythm Guitars, Lead Guitars on "Rolling Thunder"
* [[Peter Baltes]] - Bass guitar
* [[Stefan Schwarzmann]] - Drums

==Keeper of the Seven Keys Trilogy==
'''''Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1''''' is the second studio album from [[Germany|German]] [[power metal]]/[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Helloween]], released in 1987. It marks the first appearance of vocalist [[Michael Kiske]], and is considered{{By whom|date=February 2011}} to be one of Helloween's best albums, credited by many{{Who|date=February 2011}} as the birth of power metal. "[[Future World (Helloween song)|Future World]]" was released as a single and a music video was made for "Halloween" but omitted 8 minutes of the song. The band originally planned to release Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1 and [[Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2|Part 2]] as a double album, but their record label refused, insisting that the albums be released separately. But much later in 2010 both albums were released together with bonus tracks.


==Credits==
*[[Michael Kiske]] - [[Singing|Vocals]]
*[[Kai Hansen]] - [[Guitar]], Front Cover Concept
*[[Michael Weikath]] - Guitar
*[[Markus Grosskopf]] - [[Bass guitar|Bass]]
*[[Ingo Schwichtenberg]] - [[Drum kit|drums]]

*Tommy Hansen - Co-Producer, Engineer, Mixing, Emulator
*Edda & Uwe Karczewski - Cover Design
*Limb - Sleeve & Back Cover Concept
*[[Tommy Newton]] - Producer, Engineer
'''''Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 2''''' is the third studio album by [[Germany|German]] [[power metal]] band [[Helloween]], released in 1988. The album capitalized on the success of ''[[Keeper of the Seven Keys Part 1]]'' and picks up where it left off. Success bloomed all over Europe, Asia and even the United States. The album went gold in Germany<ref>{{cite certification|region=Germany|title=Keeper+of+the+Seven+Keys+Part+II}}</ref> and reached #108 in the US.

The album contains two singles, which are "[[Dr. Stein]]" and "[[I Want Out]]". "Dr. Stein" has a very long and moody [[Guitar solo|solo]], played with a [[blues]] tinge, very unlike other solos in the album as well as an [[organ (instrument)|organ]] solo. "I Want Out" remains one of the band's most popular songs, and has been covered by [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], Unisonic, [[HammerFall]], [[Lord (band)|LORD]] and [[Sonata Arctica]]. This song was written by Kai Hansen, and it's rumored to have to do with how he felt about Helloween, that maybe the band was not his anymore.{{Citation needed|date=March 2008}} The title track is the longest song of the album. [[Michael Weikath]]'s "Eagle Fly Free", one of the well known songs of the album has also been covered, as [[Kai Hansen]]'s "I Want Out", by bands like [[Vision Divine]], and [[Bassinvaders]].

==Credits==
*[[Michael Kiske]] - [[singing|vocals]]
*[[Kai Hansen]] - [[guitar]]
*[[Michael Weikath]] - [[guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
*[[Markus Grosskopf]] - [[bass guitar]], [[fretless bass]] in "Eagle Fly Free"
*[[Ingo Schwichtenberg]] - [[Drum kit|drums]]

*Engineered by [[Tommy Hansen (music producer)|Tommy Hansen]] and [[Tommy Newton]]
*Mixed by [[Tommy Newton]] for "I Got Confused Productions"
'''''Keeper of the Seven Keys: The Legacy''''' is the eleventh studio album by German [[power metal]] band [[Helloween]], released October 31, 2005. The musicians, [[Andi Deris]] (vocals), [[Michael Weikath]] (guitar), [[Markus Grosskopf]] (bass), [[Sascha Gerstner]] (guitar) and new addition [[Dani Löble]] (drums, ex-[[Rawhead Rexx]]), see this recording in direct context with their 1987 and 1988 classics ''Keeper Of The Seven Keys'' parts I and II. The album is a double CD with nearly 80 minutes playing time and comes in a digipack with 6 flaps. ''Keeper of the Seven Keys - The Legacy'' leans more towards the genre of [[Progressive metal]] than the previous album, ''[[Rabbit Don't Come Easy]]'', which was much more of a [[Power metal]] album. It was produced by [[Charlie Bauerfeind]] (Blind Guardian, Halford, Rage) and features [[Blackmore's Night]] singer [[Candice Night]] on the track "Light The Universe".

The song "Occasion Avenue" uses samples from "Halloween", "Eagle Fly Free" and "Keeper of the Seven Keys" with Michael Kiske on vocals. One of the samples is a clip from a heretofore unreleased live version of "Keys" with Kiske singing the first part of the chorus and the crowd joining in.

==Track listing==
===Disc one===
#"The King for a 1000 Years" (Music: Helloween; Lyrics: Deris) – 13:54
#"The Invisible Man" (Gerstner) – 7:17
#"Born on Judgment Day" (Weikath) – 6:14
#"Pleasure Drone" (Gerstner) – 4:08
#"[[Mrs. God]]" (Deris) – 2:55
#"Silent Rain" (Music: Gerstner; Lyrics: Deris) – 4:21

===Disc two===
#"Occasion Avenue" (Deris) – 11:04
#"[[Light the Universe]]" (featuring [[Candice Night]]) (Deris) – 5:00
#"Do You Know What You Are Fighting For" (Weikath) – 4:45
#"Come Alive" (Deris) – 3:20
#"The Shade in the Shadow" (Deris) – 3:24
#"Get It Up" (Weikath) – 4:13
#"My Life for One More Day" (Music & lyrics: Grosskopf/Deris) – 6:51
#"Revolution" (Grosskopf) (Japanese bonus track) - 5:06

==Personnel==
===Music===
*[[Andi Deris]] – [[Singing|vocals]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
*[[Michael Weikath]] – [[guitar]]
*[[Sascha Gerstner]] – [[guitar]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]]
*[[Markus Grosskopf]] – [[Bass guitar|bass]]
*[[Dani Löble]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]
*[[Michael Kiske]]- sampled at very first of Occasion Avenue

*[[Candice Night]] guest vocal on "Light the Universe"
*Backing vocals by Oliver Hartmann & Olaf Senkbeil
*Keyboards by Friedel Amon

===Production===
*Produced by Charlie Bauerfeind at Mi Sueno Studio, [[Tenerife]]
*Design and cover artwork by Martin Häusler
*Photography by Mathias Bothor

==Heading for Tomorrow==
'''''Heading for Tomorrow''''' is the first studio album released by [[Germany|German]] [[power metal]] band, [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]] on 19 February 1990 by Noise Records. In 2002 it was re-released with a different cover as part of the Ultimate Collection box-set. This re-released version of the album has also been released separately from the box-set.

==Track listing==
# "Welcome" (Hansen) – 0:57
# "Lust for Life" (Hansen) – 5:19
# "Heaven Can Wait" (Hansen) – 4:28
# "Space Eater" (Hansen) – 4:34
# "Money" (Hansen) – 3:38
# "The Silence" (Hansen) – 6:24
# "Hold Your Ground" (Hansen) – 4:49
# "Free Time" (Scheepers) – 4:56
# "Heading for Tomorrow" (Hansen) – 14:31
# "Look at Yourself" ([[Ken Hensley|Hensley]]) – 4:45 ''([[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]] cover)''
'''Japanese version bonus track'''
#<li value="11"> "Mr. Outlaw" (Scheepers) – 4:09

===2002 bonus tracks===

#<li value="11"> "Mr. Outlaw" (Scheepers) – 4:09
# "Lonesome Stranger" (Hansen) – 4:58
# "Sail On" (Hansen) – 4:24

* "Look At Yourself" only appears on the CD version of the album.
* The three bonus tracks from the 2002-release are also available on the ''[[Heaven Can Wait EP]]''.

==Line-up==
* '''Lead vocals:''' [[Ralf Scheepers]]
* '''Guitars:''' [[Kai Hansen]]
* '''Bass:''' [[Uwe Wessel]]
* '''Drums:''' [[Mathias Burchardt]]

===Guest musicians===
* '''Bass:''' [[Dirk Schlächter]] ''("Space Eater" & "Money")''
* '''Guitars:''' [[Tommy Newton]] ''("Freetime")''
* '''Drums:''' [[Tammo Vollmers]] ''("Heaven Can Wait")''
* '''Keyboards:''' [[Mischa Gerlach]]
==Land of the Free==
'''''Land of the Free''''' is the fourth studio album by [[Germany|German]] [[power metal]] band [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], released in 1995. Continuing a trend that would conclude with the band's fifth studio release, the lineup for the album was different from the previous one, as ''Land of the Free'' was the first Gamma Ray album to be released since the departure of [[Ralf Scheepers]], leaving [[Kai Hansen]] to take up lead vocals. While not his first stint as a vocalist (Hansen had sung lead for [[Helloween]] until 1987 and had also recorded lead vocals on "Heal Me" from ''[[Insanity and Genius]]''), it would be the first time he had performed lead vocals exclusively in 8 years.

Additionally, bassist Jan Rubach was to swap positions with guitarist [[Dirk Schlächter]]. Rubach initially agreed, but then resisted making the move. Rubach and drummer Thomas Nack instead decided to leave Gamma Ray. Rubach left towards the tail end of ''Men On A Tour''; Schlächter took over the bass duties and [[Henjo Richter]] took over as the second guitarist. Nack would complete the tour and then leave, with both Rubach and Nack rejoining their former band ''Anesthesia''.

[[Michael Kiske]] (ex-[[Helloween]]) and [[Hansi Kürsch]] ([[Blind Guardian]]) were featured on the album as guest vocalists.

The track ''"Afterlife"'' was written as a tribute to [[Ingo Schwichtenberg]], Kai Hansen's former bandmate in [[Helloween]], who committed [[suicide]] prior to the album's release.

Along with most of the band's past catalogue, the album was re-released in 2003 with a different cover and expanded tracklist which featured three tracks that had either appeared as bonuses on various editions of the album (namely ''"Heavy Metal Mania"'', which was a Japanese bonus track on the original release) or were unreleased tracks.

*"Heavy Metal Mania" and "As Time Goes By (pre-production version)" also appear on the ''[[Rebellion in Dreamland]]'' EP.
*"The Silence '95" also appears on the ''[[Silent Miracles (EP)|Silent Miracles]]'' EP.

==Reception==
Critics praised the album, with one review stating that it served "the definition of power metal well and is indeed one of the most metal albums of the late '90s".<ref name="AllMusic"/>

''Land of the Free'' is by far Gamma Ray's most successful album with the most copies sold worldwide.{{Citation needed|date=December 2008}}

==Credits==
*'''Lead Vocals & Guitar:''' [[Kai Hansen]]
*'''Guitar:''' [[Dirk Schlächter]]
*'''Bass Guitar:''' [[Jan Rubach]]
*'''Drums:''' [[Thomas Nack]]

===Guest musicians===
*'''Keyboard:''' [[Sascha Paeth]]
*'''Guest Vocals:''' [[Hansi Kürsch]] (additional lead vocals on ''"Farewell"'', backing vocals on ''"Land of the free"'' and ''"Abyss of the void"'')
*'''Guest Vocals:''' [[Michael Kiske]] (all lead vocals on ''"Time to Break Free", backing and additional lead vocals on "Land Of The Free"'')

==To the Metal!==
'''''To The Metal!''''' is the tenth full length studio album by [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]. It was released on 29 January 2010. <br>
To promote '''''To The Metal!''''', [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]] will headline a tour with [[Freedom Call]] and [[Secret Sphere]].
The album was recorded in Kai's own studio in Hamburg in autumn 2009.<br>
The band has recorded 12 songs. Ten of them will be featured on the regular album release, while the other two will be bonus tracks and they will appear on the different editions of the album.<br>
The band described some of the songs on the official website, revealing that there will be a full-throttle number called "Rise", a rhythmic and melodically diverse song called "Time To Live", and a multilayered anthem titled "All you need to know", featuring ex-[[Helloween]] frontman [[Michael Kiske]].<br>
Other songs mentioned are "No Need to Cry", a song written by [[Dirk Schlächter]] about the death of his father, "To The Metal", a song they played on various festivals last summer and the atmospherically dense "Empathy".

==Album versions==
# Regular jewel case CD
# Limited edition featuring an additional DVD (including the making-of)
# Red vinyl in gatefold packaging
# Collectors’ edition featuring CD and 7” vinyl with 2 unreleased tracks, completely hand-signed

==Critical reception==

The critical reception to this album has been mostly positive, with some critics praising the musicianship and the drumming in particular. [{{Allmusic|class=album|id=r1715425|pure_url=yes}}] Others have praised the band for their consistency and for remaining 'one of heavy metal’s most unsung heroes'. <ref>{{cite web|url=http://heavymetal.about.com/od/g/gr/gammaray-tothemetal.htm |title=Gamma Ray To The Metal Review - Review of To The Metal by Gamma Ray |publisher=Heavymetal.about.com |date=2010-03-16 |accessdate=2012-03-12}}</ref>

==Personnel==
* [[Kai Hansen]] - vocals, guitar
* [[Henjo Richter]] - guitar, keyboards
* [[Dirk Schlächter]] - bass, vocals on "No Need to Cry"
* [[Dan Zimmermann]] - drums

===Guest musician===
* [[Michael Kiske]] - vocals on "All You Need to Know"

==Credits==
* Produced and engineered by: [[Dirk Schlächter]], [[Kai Hansen]]
* Cover Painting by: Hervé Monjeaud

==A Night at the Opera==
'''''A Night at the Opera''''' is a 2002 album by the [[Germany|German]] [[power metal]] band [[Blind Guardian]].

Metal-Rules.com named this the best metal album of 2002.<ref>[http://www.metal-rules.com/polls/index.php?id=5 Metal-Rules.com<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

This album continues a stylistic change from power metal into a more progressive sound, with multiple overlayed vocals, choirs, orchestral keys and guitar leads and less emphasis on powerful guitar riffs and heavy rhythms. As a result, drummer [[Thomas Stauch]] would leave the group, citing dissatisfaction with the direction the group was going in.

== Track listing ==
All music written by [[André Olbrich|Olbrich]]/[[Hansi Kürsch|Kürsch]] except track 2 and 7 written by Olbrich/Kürsch/[[Thomas "Thomen" Stauch|Stauch]] and bonus track 1-5 written by [[Marcus Siepen|Siepen]]/Kürsch/Stauch. All lyrics written by Kürsch.

# "Precious Jerusalem"&nbsp;– 6:22
# "Battlefield"&nbsp;– 5:37
# "Under the Ice"&nbsp;– 5:45
# "Sadly Sings Destiny"&nbsp;– 6:05
# "The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight"&nbsp;– 5:30
# "Wait for an Answer"&nbsp;– 6:30
# "The Soulforged"&nbsp;– 5:18
# "Age of False Innocence"&nbsp;– 6:06
# "Punishment Divine"&nbsp;– 5:46
# "[[And Then There Was Silence]]"&nbsp;– 14:06
* '''Bonus Songs'''
# "Harvest of Sorrow" (Acoustic Version)&nbsp;– 3:39 (Japanese Bonus)
# "Mies del Dolor"&nbsp;– 3:39 (Spain/North American Bonus)
# "La Cosecha del Dolor"&nbsp;– 3:39 (Argentine Bonus)
# "Frutto del Buio"&nbsp;– 3:39 (Italian Bonus)
# "Moisson de peine"&nbsp;– 3:39 (French Bonus)

* "Harvest of Sorrow" has seven different versions in addition to two live versions: two in [[English language|English]], two in [[Spanish language|Spanish]] ("Mies Del Dolor, La Cosecha Del Dolor"), one in [[Italian language|Italian]] ("Frutto Del Buio") , one in [[French language|French]] ("Moisson de Peine"), and one in a mix of all of the versions except the English acoustic and Italian (also called "Harvest Of The World").
*The song "Battlefield" is featured as the music in the heavy metal edition of the Adult Swim game, [[Robot Unicorn Attack]].

== Lyrical references ==
The album features the concepts and themes familiar to Blind Guardian fans, such as historical battles and religious references.

* "Precious Jerusalem" is based on the final days of [[Jesus of Nazareth]] and his temptation in the desert.
* "Battlefield" is based on ''[[Song of Hildebrandt]]'', an old German tale of a father and son who find themselves in a duel to the death.
* "Under The Ice" has connections to the ''Iliad'', focuses on [[Cassandra]] and what happened to her after the [[Trojan War]], particularly from ''[[The Oresteia]]''.
* "Sadly Sings Destiny" is based on the religious aspect of the Messiah in the Old Testament, and tells of the crucifixion of Jesus from the point of view of a character who reluctantly helps fulfil the prophecy, by doing such things as building the cross and weaving the Crown of Thorns.
* "The Maiden and the Minstrel Knight" is based on an episode from the story of ''[[Tristan und Isolde]]''.
* "Wait for an Answer" is a story Hansi wrote about an unusual friendship between a [[hare]] and a fox. They both have to avoid the genocide created by a tribe of crows who are a kind of racist nation in a story about hope and war.
* "The Soulforged" is based on the ''[[Dragonlance]]'' saga's tales of the mage [[Raistlin Majere]].
* "Age of False Innocence" is about [[Galileo Galilei]].<ref>http://www.milan-skoda.cz/blindguardian/rozhovor518.htm{{Dead link|date=September 2011}}</ref>
* "Punishment Divine" is about [[Friedrich Nietzsche|Nietzsche's]] decline into insanity where he imagines himself being judged by a court of saints.
* "[[And Then There Was Silence]]" is about [[Cassandra]]'s visions of the coming [[Trojan War]]. It was inspired by Homer's ''[[Iliad]]'' and ''[[Odyssey]]'' and Virgil's ''[[Aeneid]]''.
* "Harvest of Sorrow" is based on [[Tolkien]]'s tragic story of [[Túrin Turambar]], which appears in the ''[[Silmarillion]]''.

=== Chart positions ===

== Personnel ==
=== Band ===
* [[Hansi Kürsch]]&nbsp;– lead and backing [[Singing|vocals]]
* [[André Olbrich]]&nbsp;– lead, rhythm and acoustic [[guitar]]s
* [[Marcus Siepen]]&nbsp;– rhythm [[guitar]]
* [[Thomas "Thomen" Stauch]]&nbsp;– [[Drum kit|drums]] & [[percussion instrument|percussion]]

=== Guest musicians ===
* Bass guitars: [[Oliver Holzwarth]]
* Keyboards & orchestral arrangements: [[Matthias Wiesner]]
* Piano: [[Michael Schüren]] (''Age of False Innocence'')
* Keyboards and sound effects: [[Pad Bender]], [[Boris Schmidt]], [[Sascha Pierro]]
* The Choir Company: [[Rolf Köhler]], [[Thomas Hackmann]], [[Olaf Senkbeil]], [[Billy King]]

=== Technical staff ===
* [[Charlie Bauerfeind]]&nbsp;– production, mixing, recording
* [[Nordin Hammadi Amrani]]&nbsp;– assistant engineer, additional recordings
* [[Clemens von Witte]]&nbsp;– recordings
* [[Detlef]]&nbsp;– recordings
* [[Paul Raymond Gregory]]&nbsp;– cover painting
* [[André Olbrich]]&nbsp;– front cover concept
* [[Dennis "Sir" Kostroman]]&nbsp;– booklet design
* [[Axel Jusseit]]&nbsp;– photos
==I Want Out EP==
"'''I Want Out'''" is a song by the [[Germany|German]] [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Helloween]] from the album ''[[Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2]]'', that was released as a single in 1988.

It was written by [[Kai Hansen]], who confirmed in an interview, that it was a hint of him really wanting "out" of the band. Musically, the song is characterised by a recognisable introduction and [[Michael Kiske]]'s trademark high pitched singing in the chorus. It is also notable for being punk-influenced (especially the rebellious lyrics) in contrast to other Helloween songs, or Hansen's post-Helloween work.

It is one of the [[Helloween]]'s most recognizable songs, and is often performed live by both [[Helloween]] and Hansen's current band [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]. The song was covered by [[HammerFall]] and [[Sonata Arctica]].

==Track listing==

==HammerFall cover==
{{Infobox single |
| Name = I Want Out
| Cover = HammerFall - I Want Out.jpg
| Artist = [[HammerFall]]
| from Album =
| Released = August 31, 1999
| Format =
| Recorded =
| Genre = [[Power metal]]
| Length =
| Label = [[Nuclear Blast]]
| Writer =
| Producer =
| Certification =
| Chart position =
| Last single = "[[Heeding the Call]]" <br /> (1998)
| This single = '''''I Want Out''''' <br /> (1999)
| Next single = "[[Renegade (HammerFall song)|Renegade]]" <br> (2000)
}}

'''"I Want Out"''' was released as a cover-single by Swedish metal band [[HammerFall]], on August 31, 1999. It is notable for Kai Hansen's appearance on guitar, lead vocals (along with Hammerfall vocalist [[Joacim Cans]]) and keyboards.

===Track listing===

===Personnel===
'''"I Want Out"''':
*[[Joacim Cans]] - Vocals
*[[Kai Hansen]] - Vocals, Guitar, Keyboards
*[[Stefan Elmgren]] - Guitar
*[[Magnus Rosén]] - Bass
*Patrik Räfling - Drums
*[[Udo Dirkschneider]] - Backing vocals

'''"At The End Of The Rainbow"''':
*[[Joacim Cans]] - Vocals
*[[Stefan Elmgren]] - Guitar
*[[Oscar Dronjak]] - Rhythm guitar
*[[Magnus Rosén]] - Bass
*Patrik Räfling - Drums
*[[William J. Tsamis]] - Lead guitar

'''"Man On The Silver Mountain"''':
*[[Joacim Cans]] - Vocals
*[[Stefan Elmgren]] - Guitar
*[[Oscar Dronjak]] - Rhythm guitar
*[[Magnus Rosén]] - Bass
*AC - Drums
*[[Kai Hansen]] - Backing vocals

==Other covers==
*In 2000, [[Sonata Arctica]] released a cover version of this song on their [[Extended play|EP]], [[Successor (album)|Successor]], and on the Helloween tribute album ''[[The Keepers of Jericho - Part I]]''. They covered it again in 2003 on their album ''[[Takatalvi]]''.
* Skylark also did cover the song, in the same Tribute album, with female vocals, and this is widely recognised as the most "Kiske-like" version of the song.
*Eddy Antonini from the aforementioned Italian [[power metal]] band [[Skylark (Italian band)|Skylark]], also performs a cover of this song along several guest musicians in his solo album ''"When Water Became Ice"''.
*[[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], Kai Hansen's current band, also performs the song.
*In 2006 Australian band [[Lord (band)|LORD]] performed this song live at the [[Metro Theater]] in [[Sydney]].
*Spanish power metal band [[Avalanch]] performed a live cover on their ''[[Días De Gloria]]'' album.
*Australian power metal band Winterstorm performed this song both on their "teaser" demo ''...begun'' and continue to play it at various live shows.
*Swedish progressive metal band [[Seventh Wonder]] performed the song in 2010, during their final concert with drummer Johnny Sandin. As a surprise to him, they asked him to leave the drum set in the middle of the song and perform vocals to the final section.

==Credits==
*[[Michael Kiske]] - vocals
*[[Kai Hansen]] - lead and rhythm guitars
*[[Michael Weikath]] - lead and rhythm guitars
*[[Markus Grosskopf]] - bass guitar
*[[Ingo Schwichtenberg]] - drums

==Crimson Thunder==
'''''Crimson Thunder''''' is the fourth studio release by [[Sweden|Swedish]] metal band [[HammerFall]]. It was the first album the band worked with producer [[Charlie Bauerfeind]] on.

The cover art is made by [[Samwise Didier|Samwise]] who is best known for his [[Warcraft universe|Warcraft]] concept arts.

==Personnel==
* '''[[Joacim Cans]]''' - ''Lead & backing vocals''
* '''[[Oscar Dronjak]]''' - ''Lead & Rhythm guitars, Backing vocals''
* '''[[Stefan Elmgren]]''' - ''Lead, rhythm & acoustic guitars, Backing vocals''
* '''[[Magnus Rosén]]''' - ''Bass guitar''
* '''[[Anders Johansson]]''' - ''Drums & percussion''

==Release information==
*Digipack CD, LP, shaped CD, picture LP, comic book edition, leather bound comic book edition, DVD-Audio, value box (with "Hearts On Fire" CDS), Gold Award edition.

*Limited Gold Editions comes in an amaray (DVD-box), including printed HammerFall signatures, including golden HammerFall-plektrum, including bonus track ("Heeding The Call" - live) and videoclip ("Hearts On Fire").

*Special Comic Edition Features a CD of Crimson Thunder housed in an oversize hardback comic book, with an original comic story and the album's original liner notes/lyrics. Stricktly Limited CD & Comicbook with 25 pages comic + 7 pages booklet, hardcover size A4 & the bonustrack "Rising Force".

*DVD-Audio comes in 5.1 Dolby Surround Multichannel Sound. Playable into all DVD Players and with 5.1 Channel Surround Sound System and has "Hearts On Fire" videoclip.

*There has also been a numbered (1000 have been made) limited edition 3CD longform leather digibook, that contains two 3" MCDs with one track on it each: Crazy Nights ([[Loudness (band)|Loudness]] cover), Detroit Rock City ([[Kiss (band)|Kiss]] cover).

*The Japanese version contains the bonus tracks: Crazy Nights ([[Loudness (band)|Loudness cover]]), Renegade (live), Hammerfall (live).

==The Metal Opera==
'''''The Metal Opera''''' is the first full-length album by [[Tobias Sammet]]'s side project opera, [[Avantasia]]. It is a [[concept album]] and a [[rock opera]], and further information on the story can be found [[Avantasia (story)|here]].

== Track listing ==
All music and lyrics by Tobias Sammet

# "Prelude" – 1:11
# "Reach Out for the Light" – 6:33
# "Serpents in Paradise" – 6:16
# "Malleus Maleficarum" – 1:43
# "Breaking Away" – 4:35
# "Farewell" – 6:33
# "The Glory of Rome" – 5:29
# "In Nomine Patris" – 1:04
# "Avantasia" – 5:32
# "A New Dimension" – 1:39
# "Inside" – 2:24
# "Sign of the Cross" – 6:26
# "The Tower" – 9:43

== Credits ==
* [[Tobias Sammet]] ([[Edguy]]) - [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[Vocals]] (see "[[The Metal Opera#Singers|Singers]]")
* [[Henjo Richter]] ([[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]) - [[Guitar]]s
* [[Markus Grosskopf]] ([[Helloween]]) - [[Bass guitar]]
* [[Alex Holzwarth]] ([[Rhapsody of Fire]]) - [[Drums]]

=== Guests ===
==== Musicians ====
* [[Guitar]]
** [[Jens Ludwig]] ([[Edguy]]) (lead on tracks 12 & 13)
** [[Norman Meiritz]] (acoustic on track 6)
* [[Synthesizer|Keyboards]]
** [[Frank Tischer]] ([[Piano]] on track 11)

==== Singers ====
* Gabriel Laymann - [[Tobias Sammet]] ([[Edguy]]) - tracks 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12 & 13
* Lugaid Vandroiy - [[Michael Kiske]] (credited as Ernie) (ex-[[Helloween]]) - tracks 2, 5, 6, 9, & 13
* Friar Jakob - [[David DeFeis]] ([[Virgin Steele]]) - tracks 3 & 13
* Bailiff Falk von Kronberg - [[Ralf Zdiarstek]] - tracks 4 & 7
* Anna Held - [[Sharon den Adel]] ([[Within Temptation]]) - track 6
* [[Archbishopric of Mainz|Bishop Johann von Bicken]] - [[Rob Rock]] (ex [[Axel Rudi Pell]], ex Angelica, ex Warrior, Driver, [[Impellitteri]]) - track 7 & 12
* [[Pope Clement VIII]] - [[Oliver Hartmann]] (ex-[[At Vance]]) - tracks 7, 12 & 13
* Elderane the Elf - [[Andre Matos]] (ex-[[Symfonia]], ex-[[Shaaman]], ex-[[Angra (band)|Angra]], ex-[[Viper (band)|Viper]]) - tracks 11, 12 & 13
* Regrin the Dwarf - [[Kai Hansen]] ([[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]], ex-[[Helloween]]) - tracks 11 & 12
* Voice of the Tower - [[Timo Tolkki]] (ex-[[Symfonia]], ex-[[Revolution Renaissance]], ex-[[Stratovarius]]) - track 13
'''''The Metal Opera Pt. II''''' is the second full-length album by [[Tobias Sammet]]'s side project opera, [[Avantasia]]. It is a [[concept album]] and a [[rock opera]], and further information on the story can be found [[Avantasia (story)|here]]. The songs carry on the story begun in ''[[The Metal Opera]]'', with the same characters. Much like other [[power metal]] albums, the compositions draws aesthetic and lyrical influences from early [[fantasy literature]] such as [[The Lord of The Rings]] and the [[Red Sonja]] series.

== Track listing ==
All music and lyrics by Tobias Sammet

# "The Seven Angels" – 14:17
# "No Return" – 4:29
# "The Looking Glass" – 4:53
# "In Quest for" – 3:54
# "The Final Sacrifice" – 5:02
# "Neverland" – 5:00
# "Anywhere" – 5:29
# "Chalice of Agony" – 6:00
# "Memory" – 5:44
# "Into the Unknown" – 4:29

== Credits ==
* [[Tobias Sammet]] ([[Edguy]]) - [[Keyboard instrument|Keyboards]], [[Vocals]] (see "[[The Metal Opera Part II#Singers|Singers]]")
* [[Henjo Richter]] ([[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]) - [[Guitars]]
* [[Markus Grosskopf]] ([[Helloween]]) - [[Bass guitar]]
* [[Alex Holzwarth]] ([[Rhapsody of Fire]]) - [[Drums]]

=== Guests ===
==== Musicians ====
* [[Guitar]]
** [[Jens Ludwig]] ([[Edguy]]) (lead on tracks 5 and 9)
** [[Norman Meiritz]] (rhythm on track 10)
** [[Timo Tolkki]] ([[Symfonia]], ex-[[Revolution Renaissance]], ex-[[Stratovarius]]) (lead on tracks 1 and 10)
* [[Bass guitar]]
** [[Tobias Sammet]] ([[Edguy]]) (on track 10)
* [[Drums]]
** [[Eric Singer]] ([[Kiss (band)|KISS]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[Alice Cooper]]) (on track 10)
* [[Synthesizer|Keyboard]]
** [[Frank Tischer]] ([[Piano]] on tracks 1, 4 and 7)

==== Singers ====
* Gabriel Laymann - [[Tobias Sammet]] ([[Edguy]]) - tracks 1-10
* Lugaid Vandroiy - [[Michael Kiske]] (ex-[[Helloween]]) - tracks 1 and 2
* Brother Jakob - [[David DeFeis]] ([[Virgin Steele]]) - tracks 1 and 5
* Bailiff Falk von Kronberg - [[Ralf Zdiarstek]] - track 9
* Anna Held - [[Sharon den Adel]] ([[Within Temptation]]) - track 10
* Bishop Johann von Bicken - [[Rob Rock]] (ex [[Axel Rudi Pell]], ex Angelica, ex Warrior, Driver, [[Impellitteri]]) - tracks 1 and 6
* Pope Clement VIII - [[Oliver Hartmann]] (ex-[[At Vance]]) - track 1
* Elderane the Elf - [[Andre Matos]] (ex-[[Symfonia]], ex-[[Shaaman]], ex-[[Angra (band)|Angra]], ex-[[Viper (band)|Viper]]) - tracks 1, 2 and 8
* Regrin the Dwarf - [[Kai Hansen]] ([[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]]) - tracks 1 and 8
* Mysterious Voice of the Tower - [[Timo Tolkki]] (ex-[[Symfonia]], ex-[[Revolution Renaissance]], ex-[[Stratovarius]]) - track 1
* Tree of Knowledge - [[Bob Catley]] ([[Magnum (band)|Magnum]]) - tracks 3 and 4

==Primo Victoria==
'''''Primo Victoria''''' ''(Victory to first)'' is the second [[album]] by Swedish [[power metal]] band [[Sabaton (band)|Sabaton]]. This was the first album they released for their new label, [[Black Lodge Records]].

==Track listing==
# "Primo Victoria" – 4:10 - About [[D-Day]] of [[Operation Overlord]].
# "Reign of Terror" – 3:51 - About [[Operation Desert Storm]] and [[Saddam Hussein]].
# "Panzer Battalion" – 5:09 - About [[Operation Iraqi Freedom]], the follow-up to "Reign of Terror".
# "Wolfpack" – 5:55 - About the [[Battle of the Atlantic (1939–1945)|Battle of the Atlantic]], specifically [[Wolf pack Hecht|Wolfpack Hecht's]] attack on convoy ONS-92.
# "Counterstrike" – 3:48 - About the [[Six-Day War]].
# "Stalingrad" – 5:18 - About the [[Battle of Stalingrad]].
# "Into the Fire" – 3:25 - About the [[Vietnam War]].
# "Purple Heart" – 5:07 - About the recipients of the award the [[Purple Heart]].
# "Metal Machine" – 4:22 - About [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]], the lyrics are built up around song titles from bands like [[Iron Maiden]], [[Manowar]], [[Judas Priest]], [[Rainbow (band)|Rainbow]], [[Dio (band)|Dio]], [[Metallica]], [[W.A.S.P.]], [[Accept]], [[Helloween]], [[Pink Floyd]] and [[Black Sabbath]].

;Re-Armed Edition (2010) bonus tracks:
# "The March To War" - 1:21
# "Shotgun" - 3:14
# "Into The Fire (Live In Falun 2008)" - 4:08
# "Rise Of Evil (Live In Falun 2008)" - 8:03
# "The Beast (Twisted Sister Cover)" - 3:11
# "Dead Soldier's Waltz" - 1:21

== Album line-up==
* Joakim Brodén - Vocals & Keyboards
* Rickard Sundén - Guitars & Backing vocals
* Oskar Montelius - Guitars & Backing vocals
* Pär Sundström - Bass
* Daniel Mullback - Drums

== Trivia==
* The band was commissioned by members of the [[Norwegian Army 2nd Battalion|Norwegian Army Second Battalion]] to make an alternate version of ''Panzer Battalion''. The alternate version was called ''Second Battalion'', and the songs are exactly the same except that in the remade version the chorus goes "Second Battalion" where the original goes "panzer battalion".{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}}

==Demons and Wizards==
'''''Demons and Wizards''''' is the fourth album released by British [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Uriah Heep (band)|Uriah Heep]].

The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, the front of which was designed by [[Roger Dean (artist)|Roger Dean]] and contains a hidden erotic image of male and female genitalia. The inner of the gatefold had pictures of the band and notes by Ken Hensley, whilst the LP itself was housed in a liner on which were printed the lyrics.

The songs "The Wizard" and "Easy Livin'" were released as singles in the United Kingdom and North America, as well as many other markets. "Easy Livin'" entered the US Top 40 at #39, making it Heep's first and only American hit. "Easy Livin'" was also a mega hit in the Netherlands and Germany, countries which were becoming a strong market for the band. It reached a disappointing #75 in Australia. The album itself was certified [[Music recording sales certification|Gold]] in the US on 27 October 1972.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=uriah%20heep&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25
|title=RIAA Gold & Platinum database|accessdate=9 April 2009}}</ref>

The album is today regarded by many fans and critics alike as Uriah Heep's best album, often ranked against the preceding ''Look at Yourself''. Even ''[[Rolling Stone (magazine)|Rolling Stone]]'', which printed an infamously negative review of the [[Very 'Eavy... Very 'Umble|band's debut album]], ran a positive assessment of ''Demons and Wizards''. "These guys are good. The first side of ''Demons and Wizards'' is simply odds-on the finest high energy workout of the year, tying nose and nose with the [[Blue Oyster Cult]]," wrote [[Mike Saunders]], who stated in conclusion, "they may have started out as a thoroughly dispensable neo-[[Cream (band)|Cream]] & [[blues|Blooze]] outfit, but at this point Uriah Heep are shaping up into one
hell of a first-rate modern rock band."<ref name="RS #122">{{cite journal |last1=[[Mike Saunders|Saunders, Mike]] |first1= |last2= |first2= |date=November 23, 1972 |title=Demons and Wizards |journal=[[Rolling Stone]] |publisher=Straight Arrow Publishers, Inc. |volume= |issue=122 |pages=66 |url= |doi= }}</ref>

The album also served as partial inspiration for [[Hansi Kürsch]] and [[Jon Schaffer]]'s side-project [[Demons and Wizards (band)|Demons and Wizards]].

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Ken Hensley]] except where noted.

# "[[The Wizard (Uriah Heep song)|The Wizard]]" ([[Mark Clarke]], [[Ken Hensley]]) – 2:59
# "Traveller in Time" ([[Mick Box]], [[David Byron]], [[Lee Kerslake]]) – 3:25
# "[[Easy Livin' (song)|Easy Livin']]" – 2:37
# "Poet's Justice" (Box, Hensley, Kerslake) – 4:15
# "Circle of Hands" – 6:25
# "Rainbow Demon" – 4:25
# "All My Life" (Box, Byron, Kerslake) – 2:44
# "Paradise" – 5:10
# "The Spell" - 7:32

''Demons and Wizards'' was remastered and reissued in 1995 with four bonus tracks:

# <li value="10">"Why (Single Edit)" (Box, Byron) – 4:53 – Original B-side single version.
# "Why (Extended Version)" (Box, Byron) – 7:39 – Long version recorded during the ''Demons and Wizards'' sessions early 1972.
# "Home Again to You (Demo)" – 5:28 – A demo recorded during the ''Demons and Wizards'' sessions.
# "Green Eye (Demo)" - 3:46 – A demo recorded during the ''Demons and Wizards'' sessions.

Reissued again in 2003 with the following bonus tracks:

# <li value="10">"Why (Extended Version)" - 10:34
# "Rainbow Demon (Single Edit)" - 3:36
# "Proud Words On a Dusty Shelf" - 2:52
# "Home Again to You (Demo)" - 5:36
# "Green Eye (Demo)" - 3:46

==Personnel==
*[[David Byron]] – [[Singing|vocals]]
*[[Ken Hensley]] – [[Steel-string guitar|acoustic]], [[electric guitar|electric]] and [[slide guitar]], [[Singing|vocals]], [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
*[[Mick Box]] – [[lead guitar]], [[Backing vocalist|backing vocals]]
*[[Gary Thain]] – [[bass guitar]] (except for track one)
*[[Lee Kerslake]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]], [[Singing|vocals]]
*[[Mark Clarke (musician)|Mark Clarke]] – [[bass guitar]], [[Singing|vocals]] on "The Wizard" (middle section)

==The Book of Heaavy Metal==
'''''The Book of Heavy Metal''''' is the 3rd full length [[album]] by the [[Sweden|Swedish]] [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Dream Evil]]. This is the last album to feature [[Gus G.]] and [[Snowy Shaw]]. <ref>{{cite web |author= Eduardo Rivadavia|title= Book of Heavy Metal Review|url= http://www.allmusic.com/album/book-of-heavy-metal-bonus-dvd-r697982|publisher= [[Allmusic.com]] |accessdate=}}</ref>
==Track listing==
#"The Book of Heavy Metal (March of the Metallians)" (Snowy Shaw) – 5:25
#"Into the Moonlight" (Niklas Isfeldt/Snowy Shaw) – 4:19
#"The Sledge" (Fredrik Nordström/Snowy Shaw) – 2:59
#"No Way" (Gus G./Fredrik Nordström/Snowy Shaw) – 3:19
#"Crusaders' Anthem" (Niklas Isfeldt/Fredrik Nordström/Snowy Shaw/Peter Stålfors) – 4:21
#"Let's Make Rock" (Gus G./Niklas Isfeldt/Fredrik Nordström/Snowy Shaw/Peter Stålfors) – 4:03
#"Tired" (Fredrik Nordström/Snowy Shaw) – 3:49
#"Chosen Twice" (Fredrik Nordström/Snowy Shaw) – 4:22
#"M.O.M." (Snowy Shaw) – 3:33
#"The Mirror" (Niklas Isfeldt/Peter Stålfors) – 3:46
#"Only for the Night" (Snowy Shaw) – 4:10
#"Unbreakable Chain" (Gus G./Snowy Shaw) – 5:53
#"The Enemy" (Japan bonus track)
#"Chapter 6" (Japan bonus track)

==Credits==
*[[Niklas Isfeldt]] - Lead Vocals
*[[Fredrik Nordström]] - Rhthym Guitars/back up vocals
*[[Gus G.]] - Lead Guitars
*[[Peter Stålfors]] - Bass/back up vocals
*[[Snowy Shaw]] - Drums/back up vocals

===Guest musicians===
*[[Mats Olausson]] - organ and keyboards on 2, 5, 8, 10, and 12
*[[Andy Alkman]] - 2nd lead vocals on 4
*[[Per Edvardsson]] - harmony vocals on 5 and 11
*[[Patrik Jerksten|Patrik J.]] - choir vocals on 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 10
*[[Råberra Axelsson]] - guitar solo on 1
*[["Metal" Mike Chlasciak]] - guitar solo on 4
==Rainbow (album)==
'''''Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow''''' (sometimes stylized '''''Ritchie Blackmore's R-A-I-N-B-O-W''''') is the first album by English rock guitarist [[Ritchie Blackmore]]'s solo band [[Rainbow (band)|Rainbow]], released in July 1975.

Two of the songs on the album were cover versions. "Black Sheep of the Family" was a cover of a song recorded by [[Quatermass (band)|Quatermass]], and "Still I'm Sad" was an instrumental cover of a [[The Yardbirds|Yardbirds]] track.

==Production and release==
During studio sessions in Tampa Bay, Florida on 12 December 1974, Blackmore originally planned to record the solo single "Black Sheep of the Family" with the newly composed B-side "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves". Other musicians involved included singer/lyricist [[Ronnie James Dio]] and drummer [[Gary Driscoll]] of [[blues rock]] band [[Elf (band)|Elf]], in addition to keyboardist [[Matthew Fisher]] formerly [[Procol Harum]], and cellist [[Hugh McDowell]] of [[Electric Light Orchestra|ELO]]. Satisfied with the two tracks, Blackmore decided to extend the sessions to a solo album.<ref>{{cite web |title=RAINBOW: 1974-1976 |work=The Ronnie James Dio Web Site |accessdate=2011-09-22 |url=http://www.ronniejamesdiosite.com/NewsInterviews/RainbowTours/rainbow1.htm}}</ref>

For the album, other Elf members, keyboardist [[Micky Lee Soule]] and bassist [[Craig Gruber]] were utilised. The album was recorded in [[Musicland Studios]], Munich, Germany in about 3 weeks during February-March 1975. Though it was originally thought to be a solo album, the record was billed as Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, and later progressed to a new band project. Blackmore and Dio did promotional work for the album. Shortly after the album was released, all Elf members excepting Dio were sacked, and Blackmore recruited new members for subsequent Rainbow albums. This first line-up never performed live, and the live photos used in the album art are of Blackmore while with Deep Purple and Elf playing live.
The original vinyl release had a gate fold sleeve, although later budget reissues on Polydor reduced to a single sleeve. The album's songs have been performed by subsequent Rainbow lineups.

''Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow'' was re-issued on CD in remastered form in the U.S. in April 1999. The European release followed later in the year.

Vocalist Ronnie James Dio considered this release his favourite Rainbow album.<ref>{{cite book |last= Popoff |first=Martin |authorlink = Martin Popoff |title = ''The Very Beast of Dio'' (liner notes) |page = 11 }}</ref>

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Ritchie Blackmore]] and [[Ronnie James Dio]] except where noted.

Note: On the cassette version of the album Side One features the last five tracks while Side Two plays the first four. On the case insert and on the cassette itself, "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" is written as "'''Sixteen''' Century Greensleeves".
==Personnel==
;Rainbow
*[[Ritchie Blackmore]] – [[guitar]]
*[[Ronnie James Dio]] – [[Singing|vocals]]
*[[Micky Lee Soule]] – piano, mellotron, clavinet, organ
*[[Craig Gruber]] – [[bass guitar|bass]]
*[[Gary Driscoll]] – [[Drum kit|drums]]

with

*Shoshana – backing vocals

==Production notes==
*Produced by Ritchie Blackmore, Martin Birch, Ronnie James Dio
*Mixed by Martin Birch
*Recorded at Musicland Studios, Munich, Germany, February 20 – March 14, 1975

==Covers==
* [[Blackmore's Night]] have released a [[folk rock]] cover version of "Self Portrait" on their second studio album ''[[Under a Violet Moon]]'' in 1999. They also performed a live cover of "Sixteenth Century Greensleeves" (titled as "16th Century Greensleeves") on their 2002 live album ''[[Past Times with Good Company]]''.

*[[Bible Black (band)|Bible Black]], whose membership included [[Craig Gruber]] and [[Gary Driscoll]], would occasionally cover "Man on the Silver Mountain" live. In 2011 Gruber's new band, [[ED3N]] (Which also contained his Bible Black bandmate [[Jeff Fenholt]]) recorded a cover of "Man on the Silver Mountain" as a tribute to Dio and Driscoll.

* German guitarist [[Axel Rudi Pell]] covered the song "Still I'm Sad" on the tribute album "Holy Dio: A Tribute to the Voice of Metal Ronnie James Dio". A cover of The Temple of the King appeared on his career compilation "The Ballads III".

*[[Opeth]] played "Catch the Rainbow" live in concert as a tribute to the recently deceased Ronnie James Dio. [[Jack Starr|Jack Starr's Burning Starr]] also recorded a version on their 2009 album ''Defiance'', which was also featured on the Dio tribute album ''Magic''.

* Spanish [[folk metal]] band [[Mägo de Oz]] covered "The Temple of the King" (albeit with different lyrics, in spanish) as "El Templo del Adiós" on their 1998 album [[La Leyenda de la Mancha]]. Also, by Mägo de Oz, a cover of "Man on the Silver Mountain" is included in their compilation album [[Rarezas (Mägo de Oz album)|Rarezas]], though this album is somewhat unrecognized by the band itself due to some unresolved disagreements with the album's producer: [[Locomotive Music|Locomotive]].

* Swedish [[power metal]] band [[HammerFall]] covered "Man on the Silver Mountain".

==Rising==
'''''Rising''''' (also known as '''''Rainbow Rising'''''<ref name="Discogs"/>) is the second [[hard rock]]/[[heavy metal music|heavy metal]] album by [[Rainbow (band)|Rainbow]], released in 1976 (see [[1976 in music]]). With [[Ritchie Blackmore]] retaining only [[Ronnie James Dio]] from the previous album, he recruited drummer [[Cozy Powell]], bassist [[Jimmy Bain]] and keyboard player [[Tony Carey]] to complete the new line-up. Recorded in Munich in less than a month, the album was overseen by rock producer and engineer [[Martin Birch]]. The record was originally billed as Blackmore's Rainbow in the US.<ref name="Discogs">{{cite web |url=http://www.discogs.com/Blackmores-Rainbow-Rainbow-Rising/release/1420519 |title=Blackmore's Rainbow – Rainbow Rising |work=Discogs.com |accessdate=2011-12-26}}</ref>

==Background==
The album showpiece is the 8 minute and 26 second piece "[[Stargazer (Rainbow song)|Stargazer]]", which features the [[Munich Philharmonic Orchestra]].

Few of the album tracks made it into the band's live set: "Stargazer" and "Do You Close Your Eyes", written prior to the inaugural US tour in late 1975, featured in all the 1975 and 1976 shows, while "A Light in the Black" was dropped early in the 1976 tour, although it was reintroduced into the set during the Japanese dates. "Starstruck" was played in shortened form usually as part of "Man on the Silver Mountain".

''Rising'' peaked at number 48 on [[Billboard Music Charts|Billboard]]'s Pop Albums chart. In the UK it would peak at number 6.
In issue 1 of ''[[Kerrang!]]'' magazine, ''Rising'' was voted as the number 1 album of all time.

According to the [[All Music Guide]], ''Rising'' captured "Blackmore and Dio at the peak of their creative powers...(it) chronicled both the guitarist's neo-classical metal compositions at their most ambitious, and the singer's growing fixation with fantasy lyrical themes — a blueprint he would adopt for his entire career thereafter".<ref name=allmusic />

The original vinyl release was a gatefold sleeve, with a generic Polydor inner-bag.

The first CD issue had a slightly different mix to that of the original LP, including, for example, a longer delay before the band entered after Carey's opening solo in "Tarot Woman", a longer play-out on "Run with the Wolf" and the track "Stargazer" had the vocals mixed without the delay, the extra synthesizer deleted and some of the phased sounds deleted. When remastered in 1999 the original vinyl mix was restored.

After several reschedulings, the album was finally released in Japan on April 5, 2011 as a 2 SHM-CD (Super High Material CD) Deluxe Remastered Edition. This limited edition reissue will only be released in a cardboard gatefold sleeve (mini LP-style paper jacket) featuring the "high-fidelity" SHM-CD manufacturing process (compatible with standard CD players) and is part of a two-album Rainbow cardboard sleeve reissue series featuring ''Rainbow Rising'' and ''Down to Earth''. Both feature the unique-to-Japan obi strip and an additional insert.

Also the song "A Light in the Black" was featured in the 1994 movie ''[[S.F.W.]]'' The song is played when Cliff 1st enters his bedroom after he comes home for the first time in 36 days.

==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Ritchie Blackmore]] and [[Ronnie James Dio]].

;Side one
#"Tarot Woman" – 5:58
#"Run with the Wolf" – 3:48
#"Starstruck" – 4:06
#"Do You Close Your Eyes" – 2:58

;Side two
#"[[Stargazer (Rainbow song)|Stargazer]]" – 8:26
#"A Light in the Black" – 8:12

===2011 Deluxe Edition===
;Disc one
:'''New York Mix''':
#"Tarot Woman" (6:01)
#"Run With The Wolf" (3:41)
#"Starstruck" (4:06)
#"Do You Close Your Eyes" (3:00)
#"Stargazer" (8:26)
#"A Light In The Black" (8:12)
:'''Los Angeles Mix''':
#<li value=7>"Tarot Woman" (6:05)
#"Run With The Wolf" (3:45)
#"Starstruck" (4:05)
#"Do You Close Your Eyes" (2:58)
#"Stargazer" (8:22)
#"A Light In The Black" (8:11)

;Disc two
:'''Rough Mix''':
#"Tarot Woman" (6:06)
#"Run With The Wolf" (3:49)
#"Starstruck" (4:04)
#"Do You Close Your Eyes" (3:04)
#"Stargazer" (with keyboard intro) (9:08)
#"A Light In The Black" (8:12)
#"Stargazer" (Pirate Sound Tour Rehearsal) (8:34)

==Personnel==
;Rainbow
*[[Ritchie Blackmore]] – [[guitarist|guitar]]
*[[Ronnie James Dio]] – [[singing|vocals]]
*[[Tony Carey]] – [[keyboardist|keyboards]]
*[[Jimmy Bain]] – [[bassist|bass]]
*[[Cozy Powell]] – [[drummer|drums]]

with

*[[Munich Philharmonic Orchestra]] – [[String section|Strings]], [[Horn (instrument)|Horn]]
*Fritz Sonnleitner – Concert Master
*Rainer Pietsch – [[Conductor (music)|Conductor]]

==Long Live Rock 'n' Roll==
'''''Long Live Rock 'n' Roll''''' is the third studio album released by [[Rainbow (band)|Rainbow]], released in 1978, and the last to feature [[Ronnie James Dio]].

Although [[Bob Daisley]] & [[David Stone (keyboardist)|David Stone]] are listed on the album credits for their contributions they joined the band part way through the recording sessions and only appear on a couple of tracks. (Stone wrote parts of "Gates of Babylon" but was never credited). Blackmore played most of the bass parts himself for the album.

"Kill the King" was already a staple part of the tour setlists, opening Rainbow concerts since mid-1976. It first appeared on the live album ''[[On Stage (Rainbow album)|On Stage]]'' in 1977.

The original vinyl release was in a gatefold-sleeve, with a lyric-sheet insert. The crowd picture is actually from a [[Rush (band)|Rush]] concert, with the wording on the banner the fans were actually holding replaced by the Rainbow album title and the visible Rush t-shirts airbrushed to black.

'''''Long Live Rock 'n' Roll''''' was remastered on CD for the US market in April 1999, with the European version following later. The US version had a matte booklet/ insert, which matched the original vinyl sleeve for all markets, whereas the European issue was the standard glossy type.

In the 1977-78 live concerts the title track and "Kill the King" were the only songs performed, although "LA Connection" did get a few airings on the US tour before being dropped from the set.

This was Rainbow's last album to feature [[Ronnie James Dio]] on vocals. From 2004 to his death in 2010, Dio's solo shows featured a live version of "Gates of Babylon."

In June 2009 a CD size book about the making of album was released in the series "Rock Landmarks" called "''Long Live Rock N' Roll'' Story", written by Rainbow and Blackmore expert Jerry Bloom.


==Track listing==
All songs written by [[Ritchie Blackmore]] and [[Ronnie James Dio]] except where noted. All lyrics by Dio.<ref>[http://deep-purple.net/review-files/books/long-live-rock-n-roll.html Ritchie Blackmore Book Review<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>

==Personnel==
;Rainbow
*[[Ritchie Blackmore]] – [[guitars]], [[Bass guitar|bass]]
*[[Ronnie James Dio]] – [[lead vocals]]
*[[Cozy Powell]] – [[Drum kit|drums]], [[Percussion instrument|percussion]]
*[[David Stone (keyboardist)|David Stone]] – [[Keyboard instrument|keyboards]] on "Gates of Babylon", "Kill the King", "The Shed". Piano outro on "L.A. Connection"
*[[Bob Daisley]] – [[Bass (guitar)|bass]] on "Kill the King", "Sensitive to Light" and "Gates of Babylon"

with
*Bavarian String Ensemble [[Conducting|conducted]] by Rainer Pietsch on "Gates of Babylon"
*Ferenc Kiss & Nico Nicolicv – [[viola]] on "Rainbow Eyes"
*Karl Heinz Feit – [[cello]] on "Rainbow Eyes"
*Rudi Risavy & Max Hecker – [[flute]] on "Rainbow Eyes"

==Production notes==
*Produced by Martin Birch
*Direction: Bruce Payne

==Singles==
* 1978 - "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll / Sensitive to Light"
* 1978 - "L.A. Connection / Lady of the Lake"
These two singles were also re-released in the UK in July 1981.

==Covers==
*[[Yngwie J. Malmsteen]] covered "Gates of Babylon" on his album ''[[Inspiration (Yngwie Malmsteen album)|Inspiration]]''.
*[[Dream Theater]] when known as Majesty played "Gates of Babylon" in their earliest live shows in 1986.
*Spanish [[folk metal]] band [[Mägo de Oz]] recorded a cover version of "Gates of Babylon" on their album ''[[Gaia II: La Voz Dormida]]'' entitled "En Nombre de Dios" (In God's Name).
*American band [[Heathen (band)|Heathen]] covered "Kill the King" on their album ''[[Victims of Deception]]'', as did bands [[Stratovarius]], [[Liege Lord]], [[Primal Fear (band)|Primal Fear]], [[Grave Digger (band)|Grave Digger]] and others.
* German band [[Gamma Ray (band)|Gamma Ray]] did a cover of "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" on the 2002 reissue of their album ''[[Power Plant (Gamma Ray album)|Power Plant]]''.
* Finnish band [[Stratovarius]] did a cover of "Kill the King" as a B-Side to the "Father Time" Single/EP, as well as being released on their Intermission album
*Fictitious band [[Blood Pollution]] also covered the song "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" for the 2001 movie ''[[Rock Star (2001 film)|Rock Star]]''.
*Serbian heavy metal band [[Kraljevski Apartman]] recorded a cover version of the song "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" with lyrics in [[Serbian language|Serbian]] on their [[1997]] debut album ''[[Long Live Rock 'n' Roll (Kraljevski Apartman album)|Long Live Rock 'n' Roll]]''.
*Serbian band [[Osvajači]] recorded a cover version of the song "Rainbow Eyes" entitled "Tragovi" on their [[1999]] album ''[[Vrelina]]''.
*[[Blackmore's Night]] did a folk rock arrangement of "Rainbow Eyes" for their 2008 album ''[[Secret Voyage]]''.<ref>[http://www.spv.de/scripts/artistlight_e.asp?Eingabe=Blackmore Secret Voyage @ SPV]</ref>
*Swedish band [[Tad Morose]] covered "Gates of Babylon" on their album Sender of Thoughts.
*American band [[Twisted Sister]] covered "Long Live Rock 'n' Roll" during their 2010 summer concerts in the memory of Ronnie James Dio.
*Finnish band [[Tarot (band)|Tarot]] covered "Kill the King" on their first live album [[To Live Again (album)|To Live Again]].
==British Steel==
'''''British Steel''''' is the sixth album by the British [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Judas Priest]], released on 14 April 1980. It saw the band reprise the commercial sound they had established on ''[[Killing Machine]]'' however; this time, they abandoned many of the dark lyrical themes which had been prominent on their previous releases. ''British Steel'' was recorded at [[Tittenhurst Park]], home of former Beatle [[Ringo Starr]], after a false start at Startling Studios, a recording studio located on Tittenhurst's grounds. Digital [[Sampling (music)|sampling]] was not yet widely available at the time of recording, so the band used analog recording of smashing milk bottles to be included in "[[Breaking the Law]]", as well as various sounds in "Metal Gods" produced by billiard cues and trays of cutlery.<ref name="notes">{{cite album-notes|title=British Steel (remastered edition)|artist=Judas Priest|year=1980|publisher=[[Sony Music Entertainment]]}}</ref> It was released in the UK at a discount price of £3.99, with the advertisements in the music press bearing the legend "British Steal". Songs "Breaking the Law", "[[United (Judas Priest song)|United]]", and "[[Living After Midnight]]" were released as singles,<ref name="notes"/> while the track "Metal Gods" earned the band members their moniker.

British Steel is also Judas Priest's first album to feature songwriting for all songs by only current members of the band at the time: ''[[Rocka Rolla]]'' and ''[[Sad Wings of Destiny]]'' featured songwriting by [[Al Atkins]]; ''[[Sin After Sin]]'' inclues a cover of [[Joan Baez]]'s ''[[Diamonds & Rust]]''; ''[[Stained Class]]'' has a cover of [[Spooky Tooth]]'s ''[[Better By You, Better Than Me]]''; ''[[Killing Machine]]'' features a cover of [[Fleetwood Mac]]'s ''[[The Green Manalishi]]''.

The album was remastered in 2001, with two bonus tracks added. Bonus track "Red, White, and Blue" was written in the earlier years of Priest's career. It was recorded at [[Compass Point Studios]] in [[Nassau, Bahamas|Nassau]] in July 1985.<ref name="notes"/> The second bonus track, a live performance of "Grinder", was recorded on 5 May 1984, in Los Angeles during the ''Defenders of the Faith'' tour. The first album to feature drummer [[Dave Holland (drummer)|Dave Holland]].

In 2009 Judas Priest kicked off their 30th anniversary tour in the US by playing the entire album live for the first time. The only other Judas Priest albums of which all the songs have been performed live are ''[[Defenders of the Faith]]'' and ''[[Rocka Rolla]]'', but neither of them were played in the original LP running order or during the same tour.

[[Anthrax (band)|Anthrax]] guitar player [[Scott Ian]] said in an interview in the documentary ''Heavy Metal: Louder than Life'' that ''British Steel'' was probably the album that really defined heavy metal, because, according to him, it did away with the "last shards of blues" that had otherwise been characteristic of the genre. He said, "Even the title... how does it get more metal than that?"

The 30th anniversary release of the album came with a DVD and CD of a live show recorded on 17 August 2009 at the [[Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hollywood|Seminole Hard Rock Arena]] in [[Hollywood, Florida]] as part of the British Steel 30th Anniversary tour.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonymusicdigital.com/judas-priest/pages/5473900/ |title=Judas Priest Store |publisher=Sonymusicdigital.com |date=2009-08-17 |accessdate=2011-07-27}}</ref> The live versions of all the ''British Steel'' tracks from this release were also made available as downloadable content for the ''[[Rock Band]]'' video game series beginning 11 May 2010.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?p=3677955#post3677955 |title=DLC Week of 5/11 - Judas Priest's British Steel (Live)! // Rock Band® |publisher=Rockband.com |date= |accessdate=2011-07-27}}</ref>

==Personnel==
===Judas Priest===
*[[Rob Halford]]: Lead Vocals
*[[Glenn Tipton]]: Lead Guitars
*[[K.K. Downing]]: Lead Guitars
*[[Ian Hill]]: Bass Guitar
*[[Dave Holland (drummer)|Dave Holland]]: Drums

===Additional Musicians===
*[[Scott Travis]]: Drums (For 2009 Live Tour DVD/CD)

==Defenders of the Faith==
'''''Defenders of the Faith''''' is the ninth studio album by British [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Judas Priest]]. It was recorded at Ibiza Sound Studios, [[Ibiza|Ibiza, Spain]] and mixed from September to November 1983 at DB Recording Studios and Bayshore Recording Studios in [[Coconut Grove]], Miami, Florida. The [[vinyl record|LP]] and cassette tape were released on 4 January 1984 and later appeared on CD in July. A remastered CD was released in May 2001. Three tracks were released as singles: "[[Freewheel Burning]]", "[[Some Heads Are Gonna Roll]]" and "Love Bites".

<blockquote>"Rising from darkness where Hell hath no mercy and the screams for vengeance echo on forever. Only those who keep the faith shall escape the wrath of the Metallian... Master of all metal."</blockquote>
:-- Album back cover

The cover art by Doug Johnson (who also designed the Hellion in ''[[Screaming for Vengeance]]'') depicts the Metallian, a [[sheep|ram]]-horned, [[tiger]]-like land assault creature with Gatling guns and tank tracks conceptualized by the band.

"Eat Me Alive" was listed at #3 on the [[Parents Music Resource Center]]'s "Filthy Fifteen", a list of 15 songs the organization found most objectionable. PMRC co-founder [[Tipper Gore]] stated the song was about oral sex at gunpoint. In response to the allegations, Priest recorded the song "Parental Guidance" on the follow-up album ''[[Turbo (Judas Priest album)|Turbo]]''.
''Defenders of the Faith'' is a guitar-related section in ''[[Guitar World]]'' Magazine in which ''Guitar World'' readers are shown along with personal information. This is referred to as "Defending the Faith".

On the tour for this album, the band had played every song live, with the exception of "Eat Me Alive". On the tour for the ''[[Nostradamus (album)|Nostradamus]]'' album, in 2008, the band played many songs which had never been played live before, one of them being "Eat Me Alive". This made ''Defenders of the Faith'' the only Judas Priest album from which every song had been played live (other than the first LP Rocka Rolla), until the 2009 tour where ''[[British Steel (album)|British Steel]]'' was performed in full, in order.

"The Sentinel" was covered by [[Machine Head (band)|Machine Head]] for the special edition version of their 2011 album ''[[Unto the Locust]]''.
==Personnel==
===Judas Priest===
*[[Rob Halford]]: Lead Vocals
*[[Glenn Tipton]]: Lead Guitars
*[[K.K. Downing]]: Lead Guitars
*[[Ian Hill]]: Bass Guitar
*[[Dave Holland (drummer)|Dave Holland]]: Drums

==Framing Armagedon==
'''''Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1''''' is the eighth [[studio album]] from [[Iced Earth]], released on September 11, 2007. It is part one of two [[concept album]]s based on a trilogy of songs from Iced Earth's fifth studio album, ''[[Something Wicked This Way Comes (Iced Earth album)|Something Wicked This Way Comes]]''. The saga, aptly titled the [[Something Wicked Saga]], tells the fictional history of mankind, from its creation to its destruction. It is the second and final album with vocalist [[Tim "Ripper" Owens]].

==Overview==
''Framing Armageddon'' is the band's first studio album featuring lead guitarist [[Troy Seele]], and drummer [[Brent Smedley]], who never played on an Iced Earth studio album during his previous stints with the group. [[Tim "Ripper" Owens]] makes his final appearance as lead singer on this record, as well. Also, this was bassist [[Dennis Hayes (bassist)|Dennis Hayes]]' first appearance on an Iced Earth album, though he only appears on two songs. Former Iced Earth lead guitarist [[Tim Mills]] is featured on "Reflections", and co-wrote both that song and "Infiltrate and Assimilate".

In December 2006, [[Jon Schaffer]] posted a journal announcing that Iced Earth's new album, then titled ''Something Wicked - Part 1'', would be released in September/October 2007. The followup album, then titled ''[[Revelation Abomination (Something Wicked Part 2)|Something Wicked - Part 2]]'', would be released in January/February 2008. On March 17, Schaffer announced the final tracklist, and that the album would be renamed to ''Framing Armageddon (Something Wicked Part 1)'', with a new target release of August or September. On June 25, Schaffer uploaded the cover of the album on icedearth.com. Audio samples of all the tracks have been posted at [http://spv.de spv.de], the official site of the band's record label.

A [[music video]] for "Ten Thousand Strong" was released, though lead guitarist [[Troy Seele]] was not yet with the band when it was filmed. The video features [[rotoscoping]].

The Japanese release of ''Framing Armageddon'' featurs the album's single, "[[Overture of the Wicked]]," as a bonus disc.

Jon Schaffer intends to release both of the Something Wicked albums in one [[box set|boxed set]], with Matt Barlow contributing the vocals on both albums for the sake of continuity, adding at least four songs to ''The Crucible of Man'' and [[remixing]] ''Framing Armageddon''.<ref>[http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=101877 Iced Earth: Video Of Athens Press Conference]. [[Blabbermouth.net]]. Retrieved on August 12, 2008.</ref>

== Story ==
''Framing Armageddon: Something Wicked Part 1'' tells the story of the Setians, who were the original inhabitants of [[Earth]], and are directly descended from the "Great Architect". They are said to have nearly omniscient knowledge. Humans, who have developed space travel, invade Earth in a bid for "ultimate power and ultimate knowledge", killing all but ten thousand Setians (Invasion, Motivation of Man, Setian Massacre).

The remaining ten thousand go into hiding in the mountains in the east (A Charge To Keep). The Setian High Council, which consists of the twelve Elders and the High Priest, make a plan to get revenge on the invading human race (Reflections, Ten Thousand Strong, Order of the Rose). They plan to initiate "The Clouding", which involves brainwashing all the humans and making them forget their origins (Cataclysm, The Clouding). Once completed, the Setians will manipulate history by creating religions (Judaism, Islam, Christianity, etc.) to further divide the humans (Infiltrate and Assimilate, Retribution Through the Ages, The Domino Decree, Framing Armageddon). Once humankind is sufficiently divided, after ten thousand years, the Setians will await, as the prophecy told millennia ago, the birth of the Antichrist, [[Set Abominae]] (When Stars Collide, The Awakening). Set Abominae will destroy all of the human race and execute the revenge the Setians have long awaited.

''Framing Armageddon'' tells the story from the prophecy to the events right before the birth of [[Set Abominae]].

==Personnel==
*[[Jon Schaffer]] - Lead/Rhythm/Acoustic Guitars; Bass Guitars; Backing Vocals
*[[Tim "Ripper" Owens]] - Lead/Backing Vocals
*[[Brent Smedley]] - Drums/Backing Vocals

===Additional personnel===
*[[Troy Seele]] - Guitar Solos (Tracks 5,6,10,12,14 and 17)
*[[Dennis Hayes (bassist)|Dennis Hayes]] - Bass Guitars (7); Fretless Bass Guitar (12)
*Jim Morris - Lead Guitars (16); Backing Vocals
*[[Tim Mills]] - Clean Guitars (7)
*Howard Helm - Keyboards; Hammond Organ; Backing Vocals
*Steve Rogowski - Cello
*Todd Plant - Backing Vocals
*Patina Ripkey - Backing Vocals
*Debbie Harrell - Backing Vocals
*Kathy Helm - Backing Vocals
*Jason Blackerby - Backing Vocals

==Unisonic==
'''''Unisonic''''' is the debut album by German [[hard rock]]
band [[Unisonic (band)|Unisonic]]. It is the first full length studio album since ''[[Keeper of the Seven Keys, Pt. 2]]'' (1988) by [[Helloween]],
to feature both [[Kai Hansen]] and [[Michael Kiske]] performing on all songs.

The album was released on 21st March 2012 in Japan and on 30th March 2012 in Europe, with cover art credited to Martin Haeusler.

==Personnel==
*[[Michael Kiske]] - [[Vocals]]
*[[Kai Hansen]] – [[Guitarist|Guitar]]
*[[Mandy Meyer]] – [[Guitarist|Guitar]]
*[[Dennis Ward]] – [[Bassist|Bass]]
*[[Kosta Zafiriou]] – [[Drummer|Drums]]
{{Przypisy}}
<br clear="all" />
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}}
<noinclude>[[Kategoria:Szablony zespołów muzycznych]]</noinclude>

Aktualna wersja na dzień 10:24, 5 wrz 2021

Jedyny i niepodzielny wódz

U.D.O. (także Udo Dirkschneider's Orgy[1]) – niemiecki zespół założony przez Piszczel Kolano Udo Dirkschneidera po tym jak członkom Acceptu znudził się jego głos przypominający pracującą wiertarkę.

Historia[edytuj • edytuj kod]

Początek zespołu datuje się na moment wydania pierwszego albumu. To makabryczne wydarzenie miało miejsce w 1987. Choć na albumie grają już muzycy U.D.O., to cały materiał napisany został przez członków Accept, co przejawia się w jej brzmieniu.

Już od samego początku zespół posiadał tendencje do ustawicznych zmian składu, skutkiem czego każdy następny album był nagrywany w innym składzie. Po pewnym czasie sam Dirkschneider doszedł do wniosku, że taka zabawa jest bez sensu i w 1992 wrócił do Acceptu.

Wydawać by się mogło, że to już definitywny koniec zespołu, ale zaledwie pięć lat później Dirkschneider ponownie opuścił Accept. Tym razem zaprosił do U.D.O. także perkusistę Stefana Kaufmanna, któremu powierzył dość awangardowo rolę gitarzysty. Duet gitarowy stworzył z nim Szwajcar Igor Gianola, a rolę basisty przejął znany już z wcześniejszego składu Fitty Weinhold. Perkusista, co prawda, dalej był zmieniany systematycznie, ale można mówić o jakiejś stabilizacji składu. Tak nagrywali kolejne albumy, odchodząc powoli od klasycznego brzmienia Acceptu w stronę czegoś nowocześniejszego. Zaskoczenie przyszło w 2010, gdy Accept zaprezentował nowy album, który miał zbliżone brzmienie. Rozgoryczony tym Dirkschneider wywalił gitarzystów i przygotował nowy album o znacznie miększym brzmieniu, przywodzącym na myśl Gamma Ray.

Skład zespołu[edytuj • edytuj kod]

Wymienienie wszystkich członków zespołu zeżarłoby całe zasoby serwera Nonsensopedii, dlatego nie ujawni się ich tutaj. Zresztą, dla większości fanów i tak liczy się tylko Dirkschneider.

Dyskografia[edytuj • edytuj kod]

  • Animal House (Dom dla zwierząt, 1987) – niejaki Lordi twierdzi, e ta płyta zmieniła jego życie i sprawiła, że zaczął ubierać się w skóry i grać heavy metal. Utwory takie same jak Acceptu, bo pisane przez jego członków.
  • Mean Machine (Machina znaczeń, 1988) – tutaj, co prawda, nie ma już śladu po Accepcie, ale mimo to cała płyta brzmi tak samo jak poprzednia.
  • Faceless World (Świat bez twarzy, 1990) – również nihil novi. Płytka taka jak jej tytuł – bez twarzy.
  • Timebomb (Bomba zegarowa, 1991) – a tu Accept powoli się wlewa z powrotem. Deaffy, pisząca teksty dla nich, objawiła się i tutaj. Mimo to album odchodzi od poprzedniej stylistyki. Jest znacznie bardziej mroczny.
  • Solid (Lity, 1997) – pierwszy album Dirkschneidera po opuszczeniu Acceptu. W zasadzie to samo.
  • No Limits (Bez limitów, 1998) – tu dalej kisi się klasyczny Accept. Udo proponuje nam też wspólne polowanie na ludzi.
  • Holy (Święty, 1999) – to samo, co wcześniej.
  • Man and Machine (Człowiek i maszyna, 2002) – a tu już znacznie ciężej, choć bez przesady. Płyta przesycona kryzysem wieku średniego.
  • Thunderball (Piorun kulisty, 2004) – a tu jest już zupełnie inaczej niż jeszcze dwie płyty temu. Ciężko i mrocznie, a do tego Udo coraz bardziej charczy[2].
  • Mission No. X (Misja nr X, 2005) – tu z kolei miało być mrocznie, ale przez takie, a nie inne teksty, wyszło jak zwykle.
  • Mastercutor (Mistrzowski kastrator, 2007) – ciężko, mrocznie, gdzie nie spojrzeć tam piekło i szatany. A także coraz bardziej chrypnący wokalista.
  • Dominator (Pudzian, 2009) – a tutaj ciężkość osiąga apogeum. Nawet ballady mają gitarę w stylu Candlemass.
  • Rev-raptor (Reptilianin, 2011) – a tutaj do tego Dirkschneider zaczyna opiewać doktora Mengele, kolegę taty z wojska.
  • Steelhammer (Stalowy młotek, 2013) – a tu dla odmiany power metal w stylu Gamma Ray. Co prawda, Udo nie zaśpiewał nagle słowiczym trelem, ale nie można mieć przecież wszystkiego.
  • Decadent (Dekadencki, 2015) – a tutaj jakby mniej wiertarki a więcej popisów nowych gitarzystów. Tytuł adekwatny do treści albumu.

Zobacz też[edytuj • edytuj kod]

Przypisy

  1. ↑ pol. Orgia Udo Dirkschneidera
  2. ↑ Tak, to możliwe!


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