Chris Forbes

SIMON PHILLIPS/Protocol (Phantom Recordings) This I found to be annoying as all it was, was a bunch of senseless of guitar soloing and this got boring quickly. The songs weren’t strong at all. Yes the playing it top notch and the guys in the band are talented as hell, but when the songs aren’t catchy […]

This group features some members of the Alice Cooper group, and this release features their first show ever. They did put out one album in 1977, and I assume a bunch of tunes on this are on that album. The tunes on this are very raw and have that old rock n roll sound, and […]

SECURITY PROJECT/Contact (7d Media) Want an amazing progressive metal band this is. Sort of like a mix of Voivod meets Rush and throw some Yes into the mix too. Security Project is a live recording from April 2017 and unlike some prog bands where the material is far out in outer space that it is […]

For this month’s column I reached out to some Underground labels, bands, and people and Asked this: When you release something these days how do you go about promoting it? Kostas Sustainvanos Promo song on YouTube, ads in magazines, interviews, promo copies to printed magazines, digital pak to webzines. Flávio Oliveira: That’s the way everyone […]

This is one of those groove metal bands that I can’t stand. It is like Pantera, but not as trashy and I can’t stand bands like this. They all sound the same and this is not catchy and not good at all. The singer isn’t bad, but the music is pointless and goes nowhere fast. […]

ALIAS/Same (MVD Audio) By Chris Forbes Very well crafted heavy metal with plenty of thick, juicy hooks that will hook you in and keep you there. The singer has a clean, but very powerful voice and he fits the music style that this band is playing. The production allows everything to flow freely and I […]

Well the year is coming to an end and 2017 will become and gone soon and another year of music is on the books so to speak. Yes, there was some good music and even a few great releases, but for the most part music releases sucked this year. Now in saying that, I am […]

KINLIN/The Last Stand (MVD Audio) This was one of the groove/happy metal bands that are making the rounds these days and you can also throw a little grunge like Alice in Chains in the mix at times as well. I am not a fan of this at all cause to me this is not metal […]

Now, this is a total ass-kicking rock n roll band with tons of wicked, heavy riffs that are totally catchy and memorable. When the songs end you remember them that’s for sure. I love the singer too he pours his heart out on this release and you can feel it as he sings the songs. […]

This is an awesome band. They have like a mix of Deep Purple (old) and a little AC/DC in the mix and all I know is it makes for great songs along with great Jon Lord like vocals as well. The tunes are big-time catchy and I was nodding along to each tune and even […]

Totally awful modern limped wristed rock with a terrible singer. The band sound like a bad version of Green Day and the songs lacked any quality and just played on. The female singer was just bad, no style, and no substance to her voice at all. The songs, after they were over, nothing felt memorable. […]

This column I am going to touch on the cost of going to live shows and how many so-called “reunion” tours go on these days from a lot of bands from the 80’s. The cost of going to live concerts has skyrocketed recently and I am sure it is due to the fact that album […]

This is a rock n roll band and they aren’t bad, but nothing to go bonkers over neither. They have a sound similar to bands like Creed, Maroon 5 and bands of that nature. The songs were ok, I didn’t think they sucked, but they also didn’t blow me away. The singer I did like […]

Some decent power metal on this. The songs kind of all blend together at times and I was just looking for a little more variety in the songs as most have that mid-paced style and I was hoping for a few more upper paced tunes. The singer has an incredible voice and he sounds great […]

This is a very best release from this band from the years 1995 till 2003. Now I have known a little bit about this band and I must say this CD is quite impressive. Even though the band has gone through several member changes, including 2 singers, the music on this is strictly kick ass. […]

I remember this band from years ago and here they are with release # 2 and unfortunately 2 band members have passed away and this release was done as a 2 piece. The songs you can hear as they are played are played with a ton of feeling and emotion and especially in the vocals. […]

This Interview was originally to be posted in Ballbuster Babes. However, Kat has asked us not to include it in babes so it’s now posted in HardTalk Interviews here at BallBuster Music! Enjoy!! –Editors Note I have known of the Great Kat since she released her debut release on Roadracer Records many years ago and […]

There is something I really miss in today’s music scene and that is fanzines. Fanzines are/were little magazines (if you could even call them magazines, I wouldn’t myself) that a “fan” would put out. In the mid 80’s they really started popping up all over the place and then in 1986, I started mine. Zines […]

THRASH METAL!! The best thrash album of all time? Not an easy choice. For me it’s Exodus “Bonded by Blood”. A underground landmark. Thrash metal. I am sure some of you when you heard those words think of maybe old Metallica or the Bay area thrash scene in the 80’s. When I was started to […]

Johnny Winter was the real king of Texas blues! He could make his guitar wail like no other. This was recorded on Swedish TV in front of what looks like a TV studio audience of like 100 people or so. Winter and his band ruled. His blues based rock was very catchy and his vocals […]

What does the term death metal mean to some of you? Some may think it’s a wall of noise with gurgle vocals. Not to me. When death metal is played right it can be one of the most devastating forms of music known to man. Here’s the big problem though. There are only a handful […]

For those who don’t know The Allman Brothers are a southern rock band that started in the late 60’s and continued on into the 70’s. Now they didn’t have the sound of say bands like The Outlaws or Lynyrd Skynyrd. I personally was not a big fan of the band as I felt their music […]

Rigor Mortis a thrash band out of Texas in the 80’s that were one of the 1st bands to get signed to a major label that were not 1st signed to an indie before jumping to a major. What a great DVD as it goes before the beginnings of the band and leads you up […]

Absolutely hate all these “reality” singers’ shows that are on the air these days. The Voice, American Idol and America’s Got Talent to name 3. Shows like these make me sick. All these singers in just a few weeks become ‘stars? In some cases, somebody has to win the show and they get a record […]

CHROMATIC BLACK/Self Titled (OK Good Records) I thought this was gonna be some generic modern rock, but how wrong I was. This was some awesome punk rock with tons of killer hooks and vocals. The tunes had my head nodding to the tunes and the heavy guitar and bass filled my ears with sounds that […]

ASTRIAAL/Anatomy Of The Infinite (Obsidian Records) This is this bands 1st release in over 10 years. To me this is just another black metal band doing nothing new or different that I have not heard a 1000 times before. Same pick riffing, same black metal vocals, and same fast black metal style music with a […]

CACTUS / FRANK ZAPPA / INCOGNITO / MUSE / IAN DURY / CLIFF RICHARD / JOHN LENNON / GEORGE HARRISON / ROLLING STONES / JANIS JOPLIN / VOLBEAT / THE KINKS / DE CLOSE GOLD / KEITH MOON / JEFF HEALEY

NECRODEMON/Reclamation Of The Stygian Throne (Reaper Records) Prepare to be assaulted and prepare to be slayed, beaten, and crushed into submission. This is easily the best thing this band has done and is a crushing slab of old school death/black metal played with a fury, aggression and feeling. The singer screams and growls with a […]

The 2nd annual Metal Meltdown was held in Pennsauken, New Jersey, which was a new sight from the first one (which was in Asbury Park). This was much better than last year due to the place having heat, better location and, overall, just a newer building. Plenty of bands were on hand over the two […]