We are now into September, so it is time for the monthly wrap-up so lets see what 2 Loud 2 Old Music added to the collection this month. This is the August 2025 Wrap-Up and we have a little vinyl, a whole lot of CDs, a DVD and even some 8-Tracks. Plus, I finally obtained a Holy Grail item I’ve been searching for a very long time. So much to go through including a couple new Rock Candy CDs in the collection, some Kiss and even a couple Box Sets. Lots of great new and old stuff to go through and show for this month so I hope you enjoy the show!!
So go check it out as it will be live tonight, September 1, 2025 at 7pm. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.
The debut Ellefson-Soto album was released back on October 7, 2022 and only 6 months later, David Ellefson and guitarist Andy Martongelli wasted no time in starting to write the next album. Starting April 2023, work began on the songwriting and over the next year and half the two would collaborate with Jeff Scott Soto on what would become the second Ellefson-Soto album called ‘Unbreakable’. Funny enough, it all started with a cover song. David suggest they cover and a Queen song and David knowing Jeff’s obsessive love of Queen, knew this would draw him back in. That cover was of “Death On Two Legs”. Then it was off to the races and squeezing things in when they could as these guys are always extremely busy. The band recorded the album at Rogue Studios in Wembley, UK by Alessio Garavello and produced by Chris Collier.
The band brings the veterans together with former Megadeth bassist and Grammy winner, David Ellefson and journeyman powerhouse vocalist, Jeff Scott Soto joining forces yet again to deliver something unique for the guys. Throw in the young guns of guitarist Andy Martongelli from Arthemis and drummer Paolo Caridi of Hollow Haze, The Bad Guy Experiment, and Cosmic Dead Ringers and the two dynamics merge to form a modern rock band that throws everything at you from thrash, to power metal, to even a little punk while still bring a heavy modern sound that takes this album to the next level.
The sound of this album is just as heavy as the first with a real modern rock sound. The band feels like they are way more comfortable with each other and they have developed their own sound and style and this whole album feels right. It feels collaborative as you can hear and feel all the elements that each member brings to the table. They also brought in a little help as well as we get not one, but two duets on the album. One with the great Tim “Ripper” Owens (Judas Priest) and another with the amazing Laura Guldemond (Burning Witches). It is not that Jeff can’t handle the vocals all by himself because we know he can, but It is a chance to spread their wings and show what this band is capable of doing while keeping things fresh for the listener.
Do we have some stellar stuff for you this week…Well…I hope we do. There are a couple I am super excited about with the new Will Hoge and the new Jeff Scott Soto release, Ellefson Soto, that has him and David Ellefson together again for their 2nd album. Both on pre-order. There is a new Chevelle album, new Maroon 5 and even the new Deluxe Edition for Van Halen’s Balance…yeah, I have that on pre-order too. Let meknow what you want to hear this week. I know I’ll be busy. Thanks for stopping by and have a great weekend!
Will Hoge – Sweet Misery – (Edlo Records)
Ellefson Soto – Unbreakable – (Rat Pak Records)
Chevelle – Bright As Blasphemy – (Alchemy Recordings / BMG)
Maroon 5 – Love is Like – (Interscope Records)
Van Halen – Balance (Expanded Edition) – (Rhino Records / Warner Records)
As December Falls – Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine – (As December Falls)
Deep Purple – Made In Japan (Steven Wilson Remix) – (Purpletuity Ltd / Rhino Records)
Rise Against – Ricochet – (Loma Vista Recordings / Concord)
Jeff Scott Soto has worked with some massive players so a hook up with David Ellefson, formerly of Megadeth, is no surprise. The two were working together back in March 2021 and had released a single which was a cover of Riot’s “Swords & Tequila” and I have to say it was pretty damn great. But two months later, Ellefson saw himself wrapped up on a major sex video scandal. The two decided to let things lie low for a long while and about a year later, they finally announced that a full album from the two would be coming soon. And finally on October 7, 2022, the album “Vacation in the Underworld” saw the light of day. But no “Swords & Tequila” sadly.
The two guys had a little help with Andy Martongelli on guitar. He is with the metal band Arthemis and he and David had been writing some songs together for a future project. David thought his long time friend, Jeff Scott Soto would be great for these songs. They needed a drummer so Paulo Caridi has played in Hollow Haze, The Bad Guy Experiment, and Cosmic Dead Ringers was brought in to complete the band. The sound of this band is heavy. It is a cross between Thrash, Metal and Melodic Rock. Jeff has a band that is for his metal side called Soto, but that band was missing the songs. Let me tell you, the songs are on here!!!
When this project was announced, I immediately went and pre-ordered the CD bundle which was signed by both David and Jeff as you can see from the top picture of this post. It also came with a 4×4 limited card, a couple stickers and a guitar pick as you can see below. And here is the thing. About 3 weeks before it’s release, I saw and ad for the album and I completely forgot I had ordered this already a few months earlier…so…I ordered it…AGAIN! Yes, I have two signed copies of the album. Man, I’m getting old. That was definitely a mistake on my part…but there is a mistake on the band’s part too. The back cover (above) shows 15 tracks…but there are only 14. Someone skipped track 12 and went from 11 to 13 on the track numbers…OOPS!! Enough, let’s get to the music.
The album opens with the title track, “Vacation in the Underworld”. The eerie, menacing guitar solo opens and when the drums hit, the power is even darker and more ominous. When the song kicks in, those double kick drums are so threatening and then Jeff finally comes in on vocals and all is right with the world or the underworld. The song is pure metal with a Power metal vibe to it. I love the heaviness and the power…it is a killer opener.
I can’t believe we are through with another year. And what a year it was, It saw me complete my goal of one post for every day of the year and it saw me start and still not finish the massive Jeff Scott Soto Series. I still have about 6 months to go on that one. Crazy. It saw some struggles as I had a minor surgery but the two week recovery was hard and then I got sick and was miserable for another two weeks and that put a massive damper on my enthusiasm for writing. For October, I barely wrote anything. Thankfully, I keep ahead so it had no impact on my readers, you probably didn’t even notice, but for me, it was hard. But we are way past that now and all is good.
With the Soto series and the Scorpions series, I actually didn’t spend much time with new releases, but I did have a bunch that I liked and wish I spent more time with. So, we are going to go through the Top 10 Rock Albums of 2022 and of course there will be some honorable mentions, a worst of album and some of my favorite Non-Rock albums. Sit back, grab a cup of coffee if it is morning, or a beer if it is any other time of day…and enjoy!!
TOP ROCK ALBUMS OF 2022:
#10 – HALESTORM – BACK FROM THE DEAD: Lzzy Hale and the boys are back from the dead and they are rocking the hell out of you with this one. With the title track, then “Wicked Ways” and “The Steeple”, they showed they mean business and are carrying the torch for rock. Listen to this and you know Rock Ain’t Dead!! And if you want more great ones, I really like “Psycho Crazy” and the ballad “Raise Your Horns”…oh sooooo good!!
#9 – H.E.A.T. – FORCE MAJEURE: I thought there last album was amazing with Erik Gronwell on vocals, but Erik left and is now with Skid Row who also released an album this year. Original H.E.A.T. lead singer, Kenny Leckremo, returned and they released another stellar release. I like it way better than the new Skid Row…sorry Erik. Such stellar tracks as “Back to the Rhythm”, “Nationwide”, “Tainted Blood” and “Demon Eyes” to only name a handful.
Will Hoge – Sweet Misery – (Edlo Records)
Ellefson Soto – Unbreakable – (Rat Pak Records)
Chevelle – Bright As Blasphemy – (Alchemy Recordings / BMG)
Maroon 5 – Love is Like – (Interscope Records)
Van Halen – Balance (Expanded Edition) – (Rhino Records / Warner Records)
As December Falls – Everything’s On Fire But I’m Fine – (As December Falls)
Deep Purple – Made In Japan (Steven Wilson Remix) – (Purpletuity Ltd / Rhino Records)
Rise Against – Ricochet – (Loma Vista Recordings / Concord)
2 Loud 2 Old Music 