This week, We are going to talk Harem Scarem. More Specifically, the 2019 release of the Frontiers Records release of the ‘The Ultimate Collection’ Box Set. The Ultimate Collection is a box set that contains 12 of their studio albums plus a collection of songs from early in their career as well as a disc of unreleased tracks. And to top it off, the studio albums include all the bonus tracks from those albums as well. That is a lot of music and there are 175 tracks in this set. It is Incredible!
So go check it out as it is live right now on YouTube. Thanks for stopping by and please click “Like” and hit “Subscribe” as it helps out the site when you do.
For My Sunday Song #395, we are on Mike’s next Japanese Only selection and this time around it is by the Canadian band Storm Force and it is from their fantastic album ‘Age of Fear’. The song is the “Weight of the World” and although not a single, it should’ve been on the album. I have the album on CD and my copy is missing this one, although it is autographed by the band. And that band is guitarist Greg Fraser, who Ladano has interviewed before, singer Patrick Gagliardi, drummer Brian Hamilton and bassist Mike Berardelli. And for those that don’t know, Greg is the guitarist for a band called Brighton Rock as well. Another killer band.
The song appears to be about someone under a great deal of pressure. They keep getting hit with one thing after another and the weight of it all is waving heavy on their soul. It gets to be so much they are having anxiety attacks as they are having trouble breathing. It is becoming too much to handle, but yet people keeping coming at you. I am sure he is not alone with that feeling. Now, the song came out in January 2020 and a couple months later Covid lockdowns occurred and I have a feeling this song would’ve been relatable to millions of people during that time.
The song opens with a wicked bass line from Mike Berardelli before the band joins in. Patrick’s vocals are the final piece to the puzzle and let me tell you he slays this one. He really digs deep and you almost feel like he is feeling the weight of the world. He is really the highlight for me as his vocals have just enough grit and yet silky smooth at the same time. He sounds so rock & roll here. Simply killer. That doesn’t mean the rest of the band doesn’t kill it either because when you have their talent, they make it seem so effortlessly. The final piece to the puzzle is Fraser’s solo and man does he deliver a great piece that really ties the song together. Simply wonderful song that should’ve been on the album everywhere. Now, I have to go buy the Japanese Edition to get this one song. Thanks Mike!!
Mike reviewed the album on his site and he had this to say about the song…“A solid rocker, “Weight of the World” might express how some of us feel right now. “The weight of the world is tearing out the heart of me.” Ever felt that way?”
Jeff Scott Soto has said this is a working band and not a side project and will be around for a long while. He is proving that fact by releasing a second album in just over a year after the debut. This one, called ‘Divak’, was released on April 1, 2016. The debut album, I didn’t feel was a band album as the band never really played on any of the songs. It was a solo album with a lot of guests if you ask me. This time around, Jeff makes it a band. And who is in that band? Aside from Jeff, it is the same guys from the debut artwork (as they weren’t really on the album). You get Jorge Salan on guitars, BJ on guitars and keys, David Z (Of ZO2) on bass and Edu Cominato on drums.
There are still a ton of guests, but this time they are really guests. They are additional guitarists, some solos, keyboards and backing vocals while the band handles most of the grunt work…as they should if this is a band. The album is just as heavy as the last, if not heavier. It rocks out as it is both melodic and a little proggy at times. Jeff usually does more melodic, rock and doesn’t get this heavy or hasn’t in a while, but he missed this stuff and that is why Soto exists. It fulfills his desire to really go full tilt and it certainly delivers that and more.
The album kicks off with, “Divak”, a symphonic, dramatic and totally intriguing instrumental piece. The intensity builds and totally makes you feel like you are in to an adventurous journey. The biggest problem is that it ends…it just stops. It doesn’t bleed into the next song which I think is a huge missed opportunity as this was a really fantastic piece and would’ve flowed better with that seamless transition.
Formed in Canada around 1987, Harem Scarem has been rocking for well over 30 years now. With 15 studio albums, 8 live albums and numerous compilation albums, they have been delivering solid rock music for the masses. The band only has two original members still in it from the beginning and they are the two most crucial in this scenario. Lead singer, Harry Hess, and Lead Guitarist, Pete Lesperance. Why would these two be the most crucial, well they are the principal song writers as well as the voice and sound of the band. I would say that is crucial.
The Ultimate Collection is a box set that contains 12 of their studio albums plus a collection of songs from early in their career as well as a disc of unreleased tracks. And to top it off, the studio albums include all the bonus tracks from those albums as well. That is a lot of music and there are 175 tracks in this set. Incredible.
What does that look like all sprawled out? Here you go…
It is hard to believe Fozzy has been together for close to 20 years. I remember when they came on the scene and I wasn’t overly impressed. It was more of a cover band and this WWE wrestler, Chris Jericho, was the lead singer. Being a wrestler didn’t give him much street cred in my book. But over time, the band moved from a cover band to a real rock & roll band. Now with their seventh studio album, ‘Judas’, I think Fozzy have created their masterpiece.
The songs are guitar heavy, modern and so damn catchy. I would describe it as Pop Metal for the fact it is so melodic and every song is radio friendly. The opening track and title track, “Judas”, is the perfect first single. If you like this song, the album is a slam dunk. You than go into “Drinkin’ With Jesus” with its great guitar solo, “Painless”, which is almost a power ballad but has a little more punch and than straight into “Weight of My World” which is the catchiest damn song on the whole album. It is one of my favorite songs on the album despite it being a little repetitive…that repetitiveness works!!
The next couple of songs “Wordsworth Way” and “Burn Me Out” don’t slow things down. “Wordsworth Way” is such a great production and a great guitar solo even as brief as it is (it still a guitar solo – me like those). “Burn Me Out” doesn’t offer up much for me. It is a little forgettable.
2 Loud 2 Old Music 