Hardcore Superstar premiers new song 'Ain’t Mean Shit'

Hardcore Superstar just released a new track as a sneak preview from their new album. The song ”Ain’t Mean Shit” is the opening track of the new album titled HCSS, which is set to hit the stores 22^nd of April this year. The band also released dates for an upcoming Europe tour, where they are suppose to be playing the entire new album before its release.

The song itself is a pretty standard Hardcore Superstar-song, I guess. I’m always happy to hear new stuff from them, but it doesn’t make me particularly excited to hear the new album. Maybe it needs to grow on me? What do you guys think of it?

Hardcore Superstar just finished a mini-tour of Sweden together with H.E.A.T, Smash Into Pieces, Outtrigger and Crunge. I had the pleasure of seeing them in Stockholm last week and a review will follow shortly.

Post by Hardcore Superstar.

Best of 2013 - Kim's Take

First of all: what a year 2013 has been! I remember doing this list a year ago and to be honest I was struggling to find 10 good-enough albums. I even ended up cheating with two albums from the year before. This time the struggle has been the opposite; too many great albums to choose from and only ten picks. I guess I shouldn’t complain though, there isn’t really something called “too much of great music,” right? So instead I’ll just give you my Top 10 of 2013, with a few honorable mentions in the end for those albums that didn’t make the cut. Enjoy!

10. Santa Cruz – Screaming For Adrenaline

I’ve had my eyes on these Finnish guys for a few years now and they finally got around to releasing their full-length debut. Songs like “Anthem For The Young ‘n’ Restless” and “Relentless Renegades” have been spinning pretty frequently at my house. Now I’m just hoping 2014 will be the year Santa Cruz start hitting some festivals. It’s about time people outside of Finland got to see them live too. Maybe at Skogsröjet this summer? 

9. Revolver Eleven – Breaking Free

Sure, this EP is just three self-recorded and -produced songs, but it’s damn catchy. I’ve basically been walking around singing “Wicked Woman” constantly, ever since I first heard it. Apparently there are plans on releasing a full-length album next year and Breaking Free is making me really curious about what that album will sound like. Plus these guys are from Gothenburg, and you all know how much I love supporting bands from my hometown.

8. Tiger Bell – Don’t Wanna Hear About Your Band

Okay, so the title song is officially my new anthem. It’s just so liberating to hear someone just scream out their frustration. Especially when it’s an all-girl group screaming of frustrationabout annoying men with guitars, who think they’re better musicians simply because they’re men. This intense punk album might be a bit too much if you keep it on repeat a few too many times, but it definitely deserves a spot on this list.

7. Dregen – Dregen

Guitarist of Michael Monroe as well as Backyard Babies, and previously The Hellacopters, Dregen decided it was time to do something on his own. I’m glad he did. The result is his self-titled album with classic and simple rock’n’roll tunes, which is probably what Dregen does best. And he does it better than most. Obviously you can look forward to a lot of great riffs, but also a few interesting collaborations. Like the one with Titiyo on “Flat Tyre On A Muddy Road."

6. Saffire – From Ashes To Fire

It’s not really glam at all, but I’m hoping you will give this album a listen anyway. It really is rock’n’roll at its finest and the first single of the album, “Magnolia,” is simply brilliant. Singer Tobias Jansson is something beyond the ordinary and my thoughts go to vocalists as Dio when I hear him. Oh, and did I mention they’re from Gothenburg too?

5. Joan Jett And The Blackhearts – Unvarnished

In all honesty, I haven’t been listening to this album enough and I wasn’t really blown away by the first single “Any Weather” either, BUT Joan Jett is finally back with some new material and that is good enough for me. She deserves her spot on this list just by being Joan Jett. Now I’m just praying she will follow this release with a tour.

4. Skid Row – United World Rebellion – Chapter One

I’ve been very doubtful about everything that Skid Row has done since Sebastian Bach left. That was at least until I saw them live in November and they kicked off “Kings Of Demolition” from their latest album. And wow! Bach might not be the singer anymore, but this is Skid Row. At least that song. Since then I’ve listened quite a bit to United World Rebellion – Chapter One and it’s growing on me every time. Plus they still rock live. Not that I was around to see them in their prime, I’m just assuming they use to rock just as hard asthey did when I saw them in November. Which is pretty hard. 

3. Hardcore Superstar – C’mon Take On Me

“Above The Law” is probably number one of my most played songs in 2013. But you all know how much I love Hardcore Superstar already, so this album doesn’t really need any further introduction or explanation.

2. Rob Zombie – Venomous Rat Regeneration Vendor

If anyone would have told me a year ago that I would pick Rob Zombie’s latest album to be in my Top 10, I would probably have laughed in their face. Yet somehow he managed to sneak under my skin, and now I can’t get enough of songs like “We’re An American Band.” I absolutely love it. Right now he’s the act I’m looking forward to the most at Sweden Rock Festival 2014.

1. Michael Monroe – Horns And Halos

This man is a God. In case you didn’t know it yet, you do now. It’s only been two years since he released Sensory Overdrive and he’s already back with another amazing album? This while he seems to be constantly on tour and still is one of the best live acts out there? I have no idea how he does it, being over 50 and all, but he shows no signs of slowing down. And besides being very grateful for that, all we have to do is to bow down to the master and enjoy.

As I said I would also like to do a few shout-outs, especially to Buckcherry, Black Sabbath (!), Airbourne, Crashdïet and Hammered Satin, bands who also released great albums in 2013. Anyone I’m missing? I know it turned out to be quite a patriotic Top 10, with half of the list being Swedish bands, but I guess we just had a very good year over here? Plus I love to try and introduce some fresh bands and I’m hoping there are a few new ones for you here? So what do you guys think?

I’m already excited about what 2014 will bring when it comes to new music. So far I’m mainly looking forward to releases from The Treatment and Thundermother, and to see if Steel Panther will be able to bring something new to the table. Hopefully there will be a few happy surprises and some new great bands as well. What new albums are you most keen on this year?

Happy rockin’ 2014 everyone!

The Treatment Debut Video 'I Bleed Rock+Roll'

The Treatment recently released a video to their new song “I Bleed Rock+Roll”. It’s the first single from their upcoming album, and it gives me great hope about the release. As many of you already know, I’ve been a great fan of The Treatment for quite some time now, and they’re probably one of my favorite bands – especially live. Therefore I’m obviously super excited about hearing some new material and I can’t wait for the new album.

The singer Matt Jones simply describes the video as “what The Treatment are all about; in your face, high energy rock’n’roll. We’re back.”

The Cambridge guys released their debut album This Might Hurt in 2011 and have since been touring with Thin Lizzy, Alice Cooper, Steel Panther and both Mötley Crüe and KISS. Not too bad for five guys still in their early twenties. “I Bleed Rock+Roll” is the first single from their upcoming second album, due early next year.

The band is currently on tour with Airbourne in the UK and if you have a chance to catch one of their shows – do it!

Skogsröjet Festival Review

For the eighth year in a row, Skogsröjet Festival was held the last weekend in July in Rejmyre, Sweden. Since I missed out on Sweden Rock this summer I was extra happy that I got the chance to still attend Skogsröjet, seeing how great it was last year. Here are some of the highlights of this year’s festival.

Last time I saw Crucified Barbara was when they opened for Crashdïet at Whisky A Go-Go in L.A. and that time they were amazing. But I also had the disappointment I felt after seeing them last summer at Sweden Rock in mind, so I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect this time, at Skogsröjet. Luckily I didn’t have to worry at all. They start off with ”The Crucifier” from their last album The Midnight Chase, this festival is kicking off for real. Mia Coldheart’s voice is just as good live as it is on record and the only thing I have to complain about when the show’s over is that I wished it had been longer.

Later that evening it’s time for Shotgun. It’s been 25 years since Shotgun Messiah released their debut album and original members Zinny Zan and Stixx thought this was something to celebrate. Therefore they’re now out touring with Chris Laney and Ron Marcello under the name Shotgun. And when the band hit the stage they make sure that nobody misses out on the celebration! Their energy is amazing and the crowd are with them from the start. Happiest out of everyone is probably Zinny Zan himself. It’s obvious how much he loves being back on stage, singing the same songs from when he was on top of his career. His voice is still great and we get to hear all of Shotgun Messiah’s classic hits. It might not be the best show during the festival, but the crowd atmosphere doesn’t get better than this.

Last one out during the first day is Lita Ford. I’ve been dying to see Lita for several years – and apparently I have to wait just a bit longer. When she finally go on stage she’s almost an hour late and the audience is starting to be a bit impatient. Her first song doesn’t manage to change that, but after that both Lita and the crowd start to warm up. When she then tells the story about how she ran into Lemmy and got stuck at his house for three days but how they at least manage to write a song together and she kicks off the very much Motörhead inspired ”Can’t Catch Me,” I’m reminded of why I’ve been dying to see her for so many years. She also throws two of The Runaways songs in her setlist, ”Cherry Bomb” and ”Black Leather” and I’m sold. So when she finishes of with ”Kiss Me Deadly” I can almost go as far as saying it’s a magical night. Again, probably not the best show during the festival but possibly the one that meant the most to me.

The second day starts off pretty peacefully with Elevener, an AOR band from Gothenburg. If you’re into stuff like Journey and Toto, you should check them out. Their drummer, talented Anton Roos, also plays drums in a hard rock band called Saffire. They released their debut album From Ashes To Fire in May this year and even though this has nothing to do with Skogsröjet, I feel the need to point out that Saffire is definitely worth checking out.

Later in the afternoon it’s time for Crazy Lixx and there’s absolutely nothing peaceful about them. They’re kicking off with ”Young Blood” and giving 200 percent, which makes it a show that not only sounds great but also is great fun to look at. Singer Danny Rexon and bass player Jens Sjöholm are tied for being the most frantic about getting the crowd going. Guitarists Edd Liam and Andy Dawson got one podium on each side of the stage and take turns on jumping up and down from there. The only one who doesn’t seem to have as much fun as the rest is drummer Joél Cirera. He had the same stoneface during the entire set. But it doesn’t matter if he woke up on the wrong side of the bed or is thinking of something else, Crazy Lixx are putting on a great show. After the sing along to ”Heroes Are Forever” and especially to ”21 ’Til I Die,” there’s not much left to wish for.

Sister Sin are playing their second show during this festival. They finished off the first night, but today they’re filling in for Witchcraft who had to cancel on a very short notice. And as always, Sister Sin are awesome. Last year I said they’re a band you should definitely see live and it’s still just as true. Liv Jagrell is not only a great frontwoman, her voice is just amazing.

Someone else who also has an amazing voice is Erik Grönwall, the singer in H.E.A.T. Unfortunately it takes some time for people to notice, since his mic isn’t working when the band hits the stage in the afternoon. A moment of confusion occurs when the crowd are unable to hear his welcoming phrase and the first few lines of their opening song, which funny enough happens to be ”Breaking The Silence.” But once the sound technician got the mic under control again, H.E.A.T. sure knows what they’re doing. It doesn’t show that they’re filling in on the very last minute, because Crashdïet had to cancel. It barely shows that this is one of their first concerts without Dave Dalone on guitar. Eric Rivers handles being the solo guitarist very well, with great help from Jona Tee on his keyboard. And while I’m not usually a fan of H.E.A.T. it’s hard to argue with a band that has Eric Grönwall as a frontman. He’s so energetic just watching him exhausts me. But not once does this show off on his vocal performance. As I said, an amazing voice. The whole band has great energy and if this is the beginning for them as a quintet and they’re already this comfortable, it’s gonna be really interesting to see what the future holds.

When the evening comes it’s time for Faster Pussycat. They were supposed to play at Skogsröjet last year but had to cancel. Now they’re finally here and this is also their last show on their Europe tour, which means my expectations are high. And as soon as they go out on stage, it’s obvious that Faster Pussycat has a routine. No surprises there, seeing how long they’ve been doing this. But routine isn’t always a good thing, especially not live. Taime Downe seems more interested in smoking his cigarette than singing, which isn’t really helping his performance. Guitarists Xristian Simon and Ace von Johnson are trying the best they can to get the show going but it’s not exciting enough and parts of the crowd decide to leave as the show goes on. The highlight is ”House of Pain” when Taime Downe actually makes an effort and sits down on the edge of the stage while conducting the sing along and shows how good both he and Faster Pussycat can be – as long as they want to.

Last, but definitely not least, is the festival headliner Twisted Sister. And even though I’ve been saying some of the other bands had good energy, it’s nothing compared with Twisted Sister. Or should I maybe say Dee Snider. He may be closer to his 60’s but still does it better than any 20-something-year-old. His voice is just as good as it was 30 years ago. He gets everyone to jump when they sing the word ”rock” in the sing along to ”I Wanna Rock.” He runs around like a crazy person, he jumps up and down, he crawls across the stage. Only time he actually stops is when he’s complaining about the stage being too small – he wants even more space. It might not be as good as when they played at Sweden Rock last year but it’s still hard to say anything bad about Twisted Sister. And when they finish with ”S.M.F.” as the last extra number, I can think of any better end to this festival.

Twisted Sister – ”I Wanna Rock” Live at Skogsröjet:

Joan Jett Performs New Song 'Any Weather'

Joan Jett premiered her new single “Any Weather” on Jimmy Kimmel Live! this past Thursday and you can now watch the performance and listen to the song.

I have to admit I’m not really blown away by “Any Weather” in any way, but I am just so happy that Joan Jett finally is back so I don’t even care. After a few listens, the song is also starting to grow on me. Especially because it’s so classic Joan Jett. If you heard it on the radio and didn’t know who it was, it wouldn’t be too hard to take a guess. This makes me really excited about her upcoming album. And as Ally said, let’s hope the album means she’ll be going on tour again soon.

What do you guys think?

Hardcore Superstar Release 'One More Minute' Video

Hardcore Superstar just premiered a new video for the song "One More Minute."  Fun to finally see them do a video again. I've said before  that the song grows with each listen for me and the video took it a level higher. I think it's pretty awesome. What do you think?

"One More Minute" is the first single from Hardcore Superstar's upcoming album C'mon Take On Me, which will be released in early March. Here's the track list:

1. Cutting The Slack

2. C'mon Take On Me

3. One More Minute

4. Above The Law

5. Are You Gonna Cry Now

6. Stranger Of Mine

7. Won't Take The Blame Pt. 1

8. Won't Take The Blame Pt. 2

9. Dead Man's Shoes

10. Because Of You

11. Too Much Business

12. Long Time No See

Pre-order the new album now! 

Top 10 of 2012 - The Swede's Take

Just like Christian, I’ve cheated a bit with some albums from 2011, but they have been so frequently listened to this year that I just couldn’t leave them off the list. Here’s my top picks of 2012:

10. H.E.A.T. – Address the Nation
Of course I have to start off my list with a Swedish band. I might not be the biggest fan, but this album has something to it. Maybe it’s their new singer, former Swedish Idol winner Erik Grönwall, to whom I actually am a big fan. That guy sure knows how to sing.

9. LA Guns – Hollywood Forever
Since I saw LA Guns this summer, I’ve been listening to them a lot. This album might not be as good as their old stuff, but it sure deserves a spot on this list. So does a mention of their energy on stage. I can’t wait to see them again.

8. Europe – Bag of Bones
Definitely not a one hit wonder, even though many people in Sweden sees them like it. Something I find quite bizarre, since they more than once has proved they still are a force to be reckon with. Bag of Bones is no exception.

7. Rival Sons – Head Down
Both Ally and Christian have said all that needs to be said. Not much else left to say. Just listen.

6. Van Halen – A Different Kind of Truth
It’s nice to have David Lee Roth back behind the mic. And even though it took a few listenings before I could really enjoy this, I’ve realized it is album that I keep going back to. I want more.

5. Pompei Nights – Rather Die Than Livin’ In Boundaries
With their own documentary series on web-TV, I’ve been able to follow this up-and-coming Swedish band this fall, as they are chasing their dream to become rock stars. Which might not be the easiest thing if you’re still living at home and your main focus is drinking beer. But what started out as something I was laughing about turned out to be something I looked forward to every Saturday when a new episode came out. And their music is not too bad! The album is produced by Martin Sweet from Crashdïet so it’s pretty much that kind of classic sleaze that seems to be the Swedish formula.

4. Slash – Apocalyptic Love
Slash and his guitar – when is that ever wrong? I also agree with Christian, it’s clear that it’s a bit more of a band effort than the solo debut and that is definitely a good thing.

3. Imperial State Electric – Pop War
This album with 70’s rock with Glam influences is definitely a favorite from this year. Imperial State Electric is the latest project from Nicke Andersson, former front man of The Hellacopters, and I can’t wait to hear even more new material. It’s that good.

2. Aerosmith – Music From Another Dimension
It’s Aerosmith. There’s not much more to say, if you ask me. Finally they are back and they rock again. I also happen to be one of the people that enjoy songs like “What Could Have Been Love” so this is, to me, just an awesome album.

1. The Treatment – This Might Hurt
This has definitely been the band of the year for me. I first saw them when they opened for Steel Panther and then again this summer when they had the luck to be the opening act on The Tour with Mötley Crüe and KISS. And what a discovery it has been! This Might Hurt has been on constant repeat for most of the year and I’m not even beginning to get tired of it. I rarely suggest people to buy CD’s but if I would, this would be the first one to mention. I promise you would not regret it. Not at all.

Really excited to see what great albums 2013 will bring. Happy New Year, everyone!