Imperial State Electric
Imperial State Electric
Psychout Records

It seems like all I’ve been bragging about lately is how Nicke Andersson is back and that the most exciting thing in rock n’ roll these days is his new band, Imperial State Electric. Of course, it’s not so much a band as it is a nation of one, with Lord Royale ruling over every instrument, unless of course he’s feeling generous or lonely, in which case he invites some of his friends to the party, including Dregen (Backyard Babies), the dudes from The Datsuns, Robert Pehrsson (Death Breath, Thunder Express), Neil Leyton (Canuck super musician), Anders Lindstrom (aka Boba Fett of The Hellacopters), and others. I already told you about the 7″ single, That’s Where It’s At, and now it’s time to take a much anticipated run at the self-titled full-length, which is every bit as electric as it claims to be, a black and white shot of high-watt pop.

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Avantasia
The Wicked Symphony
Nuclear Blast

Avantasia
Angel of Babylon
Nuclear Blast

No disrespect to Cathedral’s recent double album, The Guessing Game, but Avantasia’s monumental box set featuring two new albums, The Wicked Symphony and Angel of Babylon, is easily the most impressive release so far this year. When I say impressive, I am of course referring to the scope and magnitude of Avantasia’s symphonic power metal, which is at once audacious, indulgent, theatrical, and fantastical. We’re usually only presented with Avantasia’s larger-than-life heavy metal fairy tales one album at a time, but Tobias Sammet must be feeling awfully courageous these days, finishing off the last two parts of The Scarecrow Saga/The Wicked Trilogy (the first part being the 2008 album, The Scarecrow) in one fell swoop. But I suppose if anyone can pull it off, it’s Sammet and his cast of usual suspects, who have gathered once again to fill their roles in this epic and evil installment of Avantasia’s latest production(s).

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