Recent content by Maturin

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.

Going to bump this thread today. This song made me do it. This... What happens if you take late-career Enrique Iglesias and mix him up in a blender with the Finnish version of Steel Panther? Catchy as hell party music with insanely bad lyrics and awesome guitarsolos.

Mjällby AIF wins the Allsvenskan with a record breaking 23-6-1 (W-T-L) and 75p run over the 30 game series, 13 points ahead of #2. Their stadium (cap. 6000) does not meet CL standards (if they manage to qualify).

Blaze isn't a low baritone. His material is still pretty high at times, but also goes very low. There is little consistency and while I personally believe he sounds the best in the mid 4th octave, lots of songs were both too high and too low for his rather limited range compared to Bruce...

Chez Kane - "Tongue of Love", second single released today for an album due in March 2026 (third album).

Saw Crazy Lixx (Confess, The Cruel Intentions) at Södra Teatern Kägelbanan in Stockholm last night. Excellent smaller venue and a show with absolute spot on sound. Second time seeing Crazy Lixx this year after traveling all the way to Malmö in February, fourth time overall. Two thumbs up!

Just ordered a Boss TE-2 Tera Echo. Couldn't justify a straight reverb, but this is too creatively inspiring not to have.