Frontiers Records

Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins – Pawn and Prophecy Review

Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins – Pawn and Prophecy Review

“In 2014, Symphony X bassist Mike LePond brought his four strings of righteous fury to a new “solo” all-star project by the name of Mike LePond’s Silent Assassins, featuring (Symphony X) bandmate Michael Romeo, prominent session guitarist “Metal Mike” Chlasciak, and Alan Tecchio, reknowned vocalist of Hades, Watchtower, and Seven Witches (formerly). The foursome doled out a self-titled debut that was refreshingly powerful, while balancing potent original compositions with ultra-hooky selections from LePond and Tecchio’s erstwhile involvement in Seven Witches. Now, LePond, Romeo, and Tecchio are back as a trio with multiple guests to dole out a second helping of hard-hitting traditional metal inspired by whatever historical and mythological subjects happen to be kicking around in Mike’s head.” Mike and the Real Mechanics.

Operation: Mindcrime – A New Reality Review

Operation: Mindcrime – A New Reality Review

“To be honest, I have remained only peripherally up to speed with the court proceedings and inter-band politics between the original Queensrÿche and Tate’s new Operation: Mindcrime as relationships (and Tate’s musical sanity) spiraled into decline. Hence, The New Reality is my first concerted exposure to Tate’s post-Queensrÿche work.” Here in the now…of hazing.

Secret Sphere – The Nature of Time Review

Secret Sphere – The Nature of Time Review

“It’s no secret that Secret Sphere hasn’t seen a lot of love over their twenty year career. On top of being snubbed from AMG’s most prestigious of lists, their distinctly Italian take on the Euro-power formula has never come close to breaking away from second-rate status, and the band itself isn’t entirely free from blame.” And now, a blamestorming session.

DGM – The Passage [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

DGM – The Passage [Things You Might Have Missed 2016]

“Italy’s litany of exports are unmistakably intertwined with the country’s culture; one look at a Fiat or an Armani suit and my intuition immediately tips me off that it’s a product of pizza-pasta land, even if I can’t quite place what makes the item in question distinctly Italian. The same applies to DGM.” It’s all in the seasoning.

Operation: Mindcrime – Resurrection Review

Operation: Mindcrime – Resurrection Review

“Barely a year after their debut record The Key, Geoff Tate’s Operation: Mindcrime project is back with Resurrection, part two of what threatens to be a trilogy of concept albums. Backed by a large cast of supporting musicians, the former Queensrÿche vocalist is aiming to beat his former band at the conceptual-metal game.” Tate v. the Rÿche: Round II. Place yer bets.

Jorn – Heavy Rock Radio Review

Jorn – Heavy Rock Radio Review

“It seems legendary front man and self-proclaimed “Voice of Rock” Jorn Lande is at the point in his lengthy career where he gives zero fucks and does just as he pleases. As much as it pains me to reference yuletide rom-com Love Actually, Jorn is like a heavy metal version of the character Billy Mack, played so righteously by Bill Nighy. He’s old, jaded and out for a buck, a bit of fun and maybe the odd shag. And that’s where Jorn’s ridiculous new vehicle Heavy Rock Radio comes in.” This crow’s watch has not ended.

Stryper – Fallen Review

Stryper – Fallen Review

“Yeah, yeah, I know what you’re thinking. Why is there a Stryper review in my news-feed? Well, it’s there because the infamous yellow and black bumblebees of Christian metal are back with a new album called Fallen, and since we covered W.A.S.P. in their post-Satan phase, it only makes sense we cover these saintly chaps in their Still-God phase (AMG would strongly disagree, but he’s traveling and doesn’t know about this yet).” The path of the righteous is beset on all sides by the inequities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil metal reviewers.

Operation: Mindcrime – The Key Review

Operation: Mindcrime – The Key Review

“Geoff Tate cannot be stopped. Getting fired from Queensryche barely slowed him down, and a lengthy court battle over the band name just made him mad. Hell, we even begged him to show us mercy, but he denied us. Instead, Tate has delivered The Key, the debut outing by his creatively-named new project Operation: Mindcrime.” Someone, somewhere deserves this.