RON KEEL – Metal Cowboy Reloaded [remixed and remastered] (2018)

Keel frontman RON KEEL has signed a deal with EMP Label Group and he’s recording a new album with his band (first single included into one of our Advanced Released compilations).
Meanwhile, the label has put out few days ago, April 6, 2018, Ron’s last solo album ‘Metal Cowboy’ re-released as “Metal Cowboy: Reloaded“.
“Metal Cowboy Reloaded” features remixed and remastered versions of the tracks from Ron Keel‘s original independent release, including fan favorites ‘Just Like Tennessee’, ‘Dead Man Rockin’, ‘My Bad’, plus new artwork.

After selling millions of records and touring the world as both a metal screamer (KEEL, Steeler, etc.) and melodic country music artist (Ronnie Lee Keel, The Rat’lers, Country Superstars Show), it can safely be said that Ron has seen it all.

Despite his extensive career, “Metal Cowboy” / “Metal Cowboy: Reloaded” is the first Ron Keel ‘solo’ rock album.
Ron says: “I am very lucky because most of what I’ve done in my life was the result of NOT making decisions – all of a sudden an idea will come to me, and I will follow it. When I believe something is right, I go for it. “Metal Cowboy” was like that – I wanted to create something special, have fun and make music.
After 30 years and around 500 songs recorded, I think it’s time to release my first rock solo album!”

The CD title came from Ron Keel’s nickname, often called ‘Metal Cowboy’ for his incursions on both genres. In this record Ron decided to combine his metal side with his cowboy side in both life and music.
But don’t be fooled, this is a hard rockin’ album.

The music sounds just like the title; hard & heavy with a southern side, yes, but plenty of gritty screaming vocals, powerful riffs and smashing drums.
Backing Ron Keel there is Y&T drummer Mike Vanderhule, Tesla’s Frank Hannon on lead guitars, Geno Arce (Keel / IronHorse) on bass and Ronnie Mancuso (Beggars & Thieves) on keys and bass, with other special guests including Paul Shortino (Quiet Riot, King Kobra), Brent Muscat (Faster Pussycat), and a ‘live in studio’ recording with the Sin City Sinners.

So expect a rocking playing / arrangements here, like the sweaty “Long Gone Bad”, the highly melodic “Wild Forever” (a true Melodic Hard Rock tune), and the groovy hard rockers “My Bad” and “The Last Ride”.
All is balanced by numbers with a southern rock feel such as “What Would Skynyrd Do” (title says all), the beautiful ballad “Just Like Tennessee”, or the great “Singers, Hookers & Thieves” in a terrific duet with Paul Shortino.

But there’s more hard rockers with the bluesy “When Love Goes Down”, the whiskey-soaked “Evil Wicked Mean & Nasty” and the melodic “The Cowboy Road” which somehow reminds me Keel (the band) with a very good guitar work by Frank Hannon.
“Dead Man Rockin’ is another favorite, a hard rocker with fun lyrics about Ron’s life on the road, check the video here;

With this new remaster / remix, a song that sounded flat in the original release – “3 Chord Drinkin’ Song” (featuring the Sin City Sinners) – recorded in a studio reharsal, now feels fine and cool.
There’s an extra, “My Bad (Radio Version)” almost identical to the original, but it’s always good to hear Ron doing some rockin’ stuff.

“Metal Cowboy: Reloaded” is a very pleasant listen, a definite testimony of Ron Keel’s favourite rock styles: hard rock and American southern bluesy rock.
Sometimes when you combine two flavors you create something new that tastes really good, and you can tell Keel knows something about these genres.
To be honest, this music recipe is not ‘new’ at all, but it is for Ron Keel’s career. He has created his own musical space here, where he feels at home.
And works. And really rocks.
Highly Recommended

You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox

01 – My Bad
02 – The Last Ride
03 – Just Like Tennessee
04 – Dead Man Rockin’
05 – What Would Skynyrd Do
06 – Singers, Hookers, & Thieves (feat. Paul Shortino)
07 – Wild Forever
08 – The Cowboy Road
09 – When Love Goes Down
10 – Evil Wicked Mean & Nasty
11 – Long Gone Bad
12 – Three Chord Drinkin’ Song [feat. the Sin City Sinners]
13 – My Bad (Radio Version)

Vocals, Guitars, Bass: Ron Keel
Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals: Frank Hannon (Tesla)
Lead Guitar: Brent Muscat (Faster Pussycat), Keith Robert
Bass, Keyboards: Ronnie Mancuso (Beggars & Thieves)
Bass: Kenn Tonn, Geno Arce
Bass, Backing Vocals: Zach Throne
Drums: Mike Vanderhule (Y&T)
Percussion, Backing Vocals: Rob Cournoyer
Piano: Joe Spraker
Pedal Steel Guitar: Ditch Kurtz
Dobro: Travis Toy
Backing Vocals: Carol Lyn Liddle, Renée Keel

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Metal-Cowboy-Ron-Keel/dp/B07896NHT2
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