Recent content by Maturin

We don't talk about the Sonisphere show. (I went home after Slayer... Took me 3 hours to stop shaking, even after a warm bath. I willingly skipped a Maiden show.) 7th August 2010, Bruce Dickinson's 52nd birthday. No taxi would go to Stora Skuggan because everyone was covered in mud, and the...

Saw Crashdïet for the sixth time at Gröna Lund, Stockholm. Swedish glam metal part of the 2000's revival, they're probably most closely compared to Mötley Crüe. They are not just another glam metal band by now; they are an institution getting past issues which would have destroyed other bands...

Saw a reunited Melody Club as special guest for glam rock act The Ark in my local city park. Framing the concert that way is enough I think. No band could open with three absolute hits and then continue to deliver just hits for 60 minutes, with absolute technical perfection. Synth pop/rock band...

When I read 'adding sparkle' (paraphrased) and pedal "that boosts the natural overtones" (quote) I think modulation rather than more gain. First thought is a Boss MO-2 Multi Overtone. The problem with boosting overtones is that no overdrive pedal knows if it gets overtones or fundamentals...

Just came home after my second screening of Project Hail Mary. Pretty sure this is my new favourite movie.

Saw Project Hail Mary (2026), directed by Phil Lord & Christopher Miller and based on the 2021 novel by Andy Weir, at the pictures. A movie project which began even before the book it is based on was out. Ryan Gosling stars and produced this major blockbuster science fiction movie, attached to...

Paul Gilbert (Racer X, Mr. Big) released his latest album WROC last Friday. A concept album with him singing, based on George Washington's Rules of Civility. A book about etiquette... (Yeah!) It's both serious and lighthearted, and in a blues rock style which fits the subject matter perfectly...

Racer X - "Heart of a Lion"

Here's one for you... Michael Sweet of Stryper, former lead singer of Boston, religious nut-case and Trump-supporter announced he was doing a full on worship album this year. Needless to say, I expected this to not be my thing. This is a pretty good song though.

Well, it's a Distortion + on one of the modes and I always use that as a main distortion into a clean amp, goosed by a TS/SD-1 rather than as an overdrive. In this setup it's for variation, never used at the same time as the Charlie Brown. It's got a way more apparent and raspy distortion than...

Updated my "small" board. Currently running the chain: MXR Dyna Comp -> MXR Phase 90 -> Boss SD-1 -> JHS Charlie Brown V4-> JHS Overdrive/Preamp -> Boss PS-6 (chorus setting) -> Boss DD-3T -> Boss TE-2. The Charlie Brown is currently the main distortion. So back to old school vintage...

New albums from Chez Kane (Reckless out 27 March on Frontiers), Crashdïet (TBA), Hardcore Superstar (TBA), Stryper and The Cruel Intentions this year. The 69 Eyes just released a single in collaboration with Steve Stevens: Overall I'm thinking 2026 is going to be a GREAT year in music for me...

"Christmas Time (Don't Let the Bells End)" by The Darkness (2003). A #2 Christmas single with 'bellend' in the title. Doesn't get better than that. Banger song as well.

Saw Melody Club live at Musikhjälpen. Only two songs played, but amazing band. Musikhjälpen, "Music Aid", is a Swedish national 7-day event every December where they lock up hosts and guests inside a glass box studio on a city square from which there is a 24/7 broadcast on national TV and...

Another one from Chez Kane. Shaping up to be another great album, this. This year I haven't discovered any new bands, it's just been the old and "old" ones putting out another great album or single.