Yossi Sassi Band – Roots And Roads (2016)

yossisassi-cover“Roots and Roads” is Yossi Sassi band’s 3rd studio album combining east and west together for an oriental prog metal experience of acoustic and electric. The final sound of the album is the reflection of an intricate combination of rock, classical and worldwide oriental instruments: flute, clarinet, violin, bozuouki, oud, saz, charango, chumbush, ney, kanun and much more. Alongside well-renowned Israeli guest musicians, the album includes vocals by Zaher Zorgati (Myrath) and guitar tunes by Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal (ex-Guns’n’Roses).

“Roots and

Backseat Romeo – Backseat Romeo (1993)

backseat 1993 frontThis Syracuse, New York-based quartet came along just before the grunge apocalypse and put out a pretty rockin’ little album (which is pretty tough to find on CD). The production (on indy label Ice Productions) is a little rough around the edges, but the musicianship is tight and frontman DR Rydher (who still sings 80s metal in Syracuse for covers band 3 Inch Fury) has the necessary swagger and vocal stylings.

Sound-wise, they remind me of early Bon Jovi, perhaps with a hint of the poppiness of the hair-metal mainstays of the time (Firehouse, Trixter, Warrant etc). Backs