Big Truck Keeps on Rollin'! Ripple Music is Proud to Announce the Signing and Debut Album from Ireland's Trucker Diablo

The folks at the 2011 Download Festival felt it.  Fans who saw them opening for Black Stone Cherry felt it.  The lucky masses who'll be at Hammerfest 2012 are about to feel it.  Soon everyone will know the band that Def Leppard's Joe Elliot has called "absolutely awesome stuff!"

Ripple Music, the home of authentic, retro rock and metal, is proud to announce the signing of Northern Ireland’s most explosive rock n’ roll import, Trucker Diablo!   After blowing away the crowds from the stages of 2011’s Download Festival, this Irish four-piece grabbed the attention of the U.S. rock label Ripple Music and immediately began working on plans to get the music heard around the world. The Devil Rhythm is a 40-plus minute thrill ride of rock n’ roll album that will have every head banging to the heavy groove and rocking to its muscular riffs and adrenaline.

Having formed in 2008, Trucker Diablo quickly garnered the adoration of some of rock n' roll's biggest names, including Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Cormac Neeson (The Answer), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), and Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy, The Almighty), who also makes a guest appearance on the Trucker track “Juggernaut”.

And now Ripple Music will be bringing the Big Truck right to your door!  The Devil Rhythm will be released in the U.S. on January 3rd, and in the UK and Europe on February 6th. Available in all fine record stores, eBay, Amazon, CD Baby and at the Ripple Music home.  Check out the debut video "Drink Beer, Destroy" and catch the early buzz of a band sure to have people talking in 2012.

Lock up your daughters and hide your wives, cause when the big Truck rolls into town, high -octane rock mayhem will be sure to follow!

www.ripple-music.com

The press raves:

"The Devil Rhythm is an exceptional effort!.  This album will undoubtedly satisfy both new-generation hard-rock fans and old-school rockers alike.  Joe Elliot of Def Leppard described Trucker Diablo as "Absolutely Awesome Stuff" and I couldn't agree more." -- Road Rage Metal Mag

"The Devil Rhythm is a fantastic first album from Trucker Diablo. Ten furious paced, no messing rock ‘n’ roll tracks that sound more like an established artists greatest hits and not a new bands debut album. Opening songs "Drink Beer Destroy", "Juggernaught" and "Big Truck" crash on your ear drums and continuously beat you into submission; overpowering you with every riff and selling themselves as the saviors of hard rock in Ireland. But it doesn’t end there!  It’s time for the public to stand up and take notice of what could potentially be one of the most successful rock bands to emerge from the North since Therapy." -- Goldenplec

"In 25 words or less: “This band needs to be heard, so listen, share, talk, tell everyone about Trucker Diablo…” -- May the Rock Be with You

The Devil Rhythm is now available at the Ripple Music Store and world-wide through Clearspot International in Europe and Code 7 Distribution in the UK on February 6th, 2012. 


 

Twisted Sister - Double Live DVD/Live At the Marquee CD

A few months ago I wrote a frantic, drooling review of the reissue of Twisted Sister's debut album Under The Blade. It came with a bonus live DVD of their hell raising performance at the 1982 Reading Festival in the UK. As great as that package is, 2 others have come out and blow it away.  In July the Double Live DVD was released containing a full live show from 1982 and their reunion at the 2001 NY Steel benefit, and just a few weeks ago Rhino released an audio CD called Live At The Marquee recorded in 1983.

The 1982 show from Double Live is a revelation. There's not a lot of footage documenting Twisted Sister in their club daze and to have a professionally filmed complete show is nothing short of awesome. Everything you ever heard about their show is true. Five guys in fruity satin outfits bashing out some of the most intense metal of the era. If the opening three songs of "What You Don't Know (Sure Can Hurt You)," "Destroyer" and "Tear It Loose" don't kick your ass then you don't have one. Filmed at the North Stage theater in Long Island, it captures Twisted Sister right before the left for England to record Under The Blade with Pete Way of UFO as producer. The energy level is high and the crowd (back when the drinking age was 18) is rowdy. Someone in the front row hands Dee Snider an early issue the infamous Kick Ass fanzine and Dee graciously shows it to the crowd. Kick Ass is one of the publications that helped put Twisted on the metal map back in the day and it's cool that it's documented here. North Stage was supposed to be Twisted Sister's farewell to the club scene but that didn't happen until almost 2 years later when their Stay Hungry album exploded. The footage here documents songs that were retired from their set not long after this show like "I'll Never Grow Up Now," "Lady's Boy," "You Know I Cry" and the anti-disco anthem "Rock N Roll Saviours." The only dud is their cover of "Leader Of The Pack" but, hey, back then the chicks liked it and it gave me time to take a leak and get a new beer before they busted out another heavy one. On this occasion it's a blistering version of "Under The Blade." Headbanging is always easier with an empty bladder and a fresh drink.

The other disc in this package is their reunion show from 2001 that took place at the NY Steel benefit show after 9/11. There was a lot of bad blood between the members up to this point but they put it all aside for a good cause and kicked major ass. It's a little unfair to compare the two shows since the 1982 one is the band at their absolute peak but the 2001 show is also great. Even though they're wearing street clothes the band still puts on a very energetic show. Dee's banging his head like a maniac and bassist Mark "The Animal" Mendoza is is even bigger and scarier than ever. Jay Jay French looks ridiculous in his cheap wig but still plays some great solos. The audio source is from the soundboard so the crowd is very low in the mix and Dee's voice struggles at times. The set list leans towards the Stay Hungry era with the hits "I Wanna Rock," "We're Not Gonna Take It" and "Stay Hungry." They don't let the die hards down with some great oldies like "Come Back" and "You Know I Cry." Chances are you're not going to watch this disc that often but it's still cool to have.

Something you're going to listen to all the time is the killer Live At The Marquee CD. In 1983 Twisted Sister built up a huge following in the UK that could no longer be ignored and they were signed by Atlantic Records. They did 2 nights at the legendary Marquee club in March and recorded both nights for live b-sides of their singles. About 8 songs from these shows were spread across 12 inch and 7 inch singles. Over ten years ago I burned them all to CD and sequenced them into a mini-concert that I blasted all the time. I always hoped they would release an entire show and here it is almost 30 years later and it's happened. Worth the wait? FUCK YES!! I'm not sure if this was intentional or not but some of the versions on the CD are different from the ones that were put out on wax. For instance, the version of "What You Don't Know" on the CD the band is introduced by none other than Lemmy. It's probably for the best this wasn't the way it was put out back in 83 because my head would have exploded.

The performances on this disc are tight, potent and LOUD!  Twisted Sister in their prime could really kick out the jams. "Sin After Sin" is brutally hard, almost like Judas Priest playing "1969" by the Stooges. "Destroyer" is heavy as hell and "Tear It Loose" is pure Motorhead speed boogie. The English crowd goes nuts when they play the (at the time) unreleased "I Am (I'm Me)" and "You Can't Stop Rock N Roll." Dee and Jay Jay deliver some hilarious stage raps that give you some insight into what it was like to be a headbanger back then. I still hate Adam Ant and I'm glad that Dee voiced his opinion back then and that it still holds up. This CD is a limited edition from Rhino Handmade and comes in a very cool TS logo shaped cover about the size of a 10".

Everyone in the NY/NJ area who experienced Twisted Sister in their glory years will tell you at length how great the band was but how the albums never captured their true spirit. The proof is out and there's no denying it. Play it loud forever, mutha.

--Woody

Twisted Sister – Under The Blade

 

I’m sure you’ve heard of Twisted Sister but do you know about Twisted FUCKIN Sister? Twisted Sister is the band you saw on MTV and heard on the radio starting in 1984 but loooong before that Twisted Fuckin Sister were blasting fast n loud in the bars and clubs of the tri-state NYC area. In the late 70’s/early 80’s heyday they were one of the heaviest bands out there. They battled against demon disco forces and helped make heavy metal a huge phenomenon on the east coast. They played 4 or 5 nights a week in any dump that could contain them and their ever growing fan base of rowdy sick motherfuckin friends (S.M.F.’s).

I’d heard the name and legend from older burnouts in high school but was first indecently exposed to them when they appeared on the short lived Flo & Eddie TV show. I was already a huge Alice Cooper fan and when I saw Twisted Sister on TV I knew these freaks would be right up my alley. They were introduced and then exploded into the song “Under The Blade.”  It made my little 9th grade mind explode and I went berserk in front of the TV. Luckily it was late at night and no one could see me headbanging and jumping off the couch in my pj’s. Not long after that I tracked down this album, the band’s 1982 full length debut album Under The Blade. Twisted Sister had been releasing singles on their own labels for years but was unable to get a record deal. Finally, a punk label from England called Secret Records (home of The Exploited) took a chance on them. Long out of print, Under The Blade is back and better than ever. 

Under The Blade has always suffered from a thin, low budget sound but the songs are so full of aggression and belligerence it’s never been a problem. The album was produced by Pete Way of UFO but who knows how sober he was during the recording. Twisted Sister had been playing these songs live for years so he probably stayed out of the way and made sure they were fired up enough to deliver good takes. “What You Don’t Know (Sure Can Hurt You)” was their set opener at the time and issues a challenge to rock out or get the fuck out. When I finally got to see Twisted Sister for the first time at Lamour in Brooklyn Dee got right in my face and screamed the line “HOW DO YOU LIKE IT SO FAR?” I like it just fine and still do!

Catchy tunes like the AC/DC influenced “Bad Boys (Of Rock N Roll)” and “Shoot ‘Em Down” point towards the commercial direction that would eventually make them huge stars a few years later. Great songs, but hardcore S.M.F.’s like me always went ballistic for the Judas Priest inspired “Sin After Sin” and the always intense title track. “Destroyer” is probably the heaviest song they ever wrote. Slow and powerful with creepy heavy breathing during the intro, it’s obviously Black Sabbath influenced but sounds more like the Cro-Mags. This was always a major crowd pleaser with a sea of fists pumping the air. “Run For Your Life” starts out slow and heavy before shifting into major high gear. But my favorite Twisted Sister song has always been “Tear It Loose.” It’s a major headbanging boogier. Just imagine if Motorhead was drinking some of Jim Dandy’s moonshine while imbibing some pure crystal meth. You don’t even really have to imagine it since Fast Eddie Clarke plays dueling leads with Jay Jay French on it. “The Day Of The Rocker” is the last song and thuds along like AC/DC or Rose Tattoo at their blusiest.

Even better than having the album back in print is the bonus DVD of Twisted Sister’s notorious set at the Reading Festival in the summer of 1982. I had seen the photos in Kerrang magazine and heard that they blew away the crowd. The footage is everything I had hoped for and more. They come out blazing and basically destroy the audience with full on MC5/Ted Nugent energy and attitude. English festivals are notorious for the crowd throwing shit at bands. Within seconds rolls of toilet paper and eggs are flying up on to the stage. The band never flinches and Dee even challenges the entire crowd to fight after the show. They blaze through 7 songs from Under The Blade with supreme gusto and confidence. To jack up the energy level even more they end the set with their raucous cover of “It’s Only Rock N Roll.” During the breakdown who strolls out on to the stage but Pete Way, Fast Eddie Clarke and Lemmy. Not only do you have a triple axe attack but three bass players, too. Fast Eddie had quit Motorhead not too long before this show and this was the first time Lemmy and Eddie appeared in public together. Not a bad show, eh? The rest of the DVD contains interviews with the band about the Reading Festival and the making of Under The Blade. Great stuff, but the live footage is nothing short of totally mint deluxe.

Fans of Twisted Sister and Twisted FUCKIN Sister are ordered to pick this muther up at once. You won’t be sorry. Other good news for S.M.F.’s is that Rhino is FINALLY releasing an album from the landmark shows recorded at London’s Marquee club in March, 1983. Some of the recordings turned up as B-sides but never a complete show. Until that comes out, keep blasting this one and your worn out tapes of the killer 1982 WBAB radio broadcast from Hammerheads on Long Island. If you need a copy, lemmy know. I’d be glad to hook you up.

--Woody

Buy here: Under the Blade