V.A. – Metal On Ice [Canadian Hard Rock ’80 hits reimagined]

Sean Kelly is a talented Canadian guitarist who fronts his own band Crash Kelly, and has worked with Helix, Gilby Clarke, Four By Fate to name a few. He wrote the book “Metal on Ice: Tales from Canada’s Hard Rock and Heavy Metal Heroes”, about Canadian rock musician’s dreams of getting that elusive record deal and making it big in America. The book features interviews with Anvil, Helix, Harem Scarem, Honeymoon Suite and others.
This 7 song EP is a sort of companion piece to the book, and it takes a novel approach (no pun intended) by bringing some of the best Canuck hard rock artists back into the studio to re-record their 80s hit songs. The verdict? “Metal On Ice” is hotter than Hell!
”Metal On Ice”, the CD, consists of remakes of Canadian hard rock / metal classics. For all but one song, he has the original singers from the bands singing lead vocals: Brian Vollmer doing a Helix classic, Lee Aaron her immortal classic ‘Metal Queen’, Carl Dixon put fresh vocals on Coney Hatch’s ‘Hey Operator’, and more.
Then to top it all off, Kelly and Nick Walsh from Slik Toxik wrote a new song called “Metal On Ice” featuring vocals from almost everybody.

Many of these songs are radio staples. “Heavy Metal Love” is one of those Helix classics that has endured. Written by Brian Vollmer and the late Paul Hackman, I think it’s one of Helix’s best tunes, period. Vollmer’s pipes speak for themselves. Sean Kelly was in Helix, on bass, for a few months before Brian reunited the classic lineup. Playing bass on this version however is Helix bassist Daryl Gray. It’s a pretty authentic remake. Most excitingly, Mr. Vollmer still has it. He owns this song. What a blast!

I found “Metal Queen” by Lee Aaron to be the most impressive track. I cannot believe Lee’s voice, powerful as ever! With the new production and guitars by Sean Kelly, “Metal Queen” has actually been improved. It’s still an old-school metal chugger, but you can actually hear the lyrics now. What is important is that Kelly has not changed the songs very much at all. His impressively tasteful playing is enough to make each one shine just a little more. Each solo is 100% appropriate to the classic songs.

A great example of this is the Headpins’ “Don’t It Make Ya Feel” featuring Darby Mills. He has captured the vibe of the original guitar tone, and the song is very authentic. Similarly, Nick Walsh does not deviate too much from George Criston’s lead vocals from “On the Road to Rock”. When Walsh screams the high notes, it’s perfect.
Carl Dixon sings lead on Coney Hatch’s classic “Hey Operator”. Dixon nearly died in a car accident before this re-recording; it’s great to hear his voice as strong as ever.
How do these Canadian singers stay perpetually young sounding? Is it the cold, frosty air?

Russ Dwarf returns to remake the Killer Dwarfs favourite, “Keep the Spirit Alive”. To me, it sounds like one of those ultimate inspirational 80s metal rock songs that used to appear on movie soundtracks. You know the ones I mean. It’s a big rawk song all on its own, too, nestled comfortably into a CD full of them.
It’s absolutely wonderful to hear a well produced updated version.

Finally, there is the new original song “Metal on Ice”. This ode to the road features lead vocals from Dixon, Vollmer, Mills, Walsh and Aaron. I love the lyrics: “Hello Kelowna, goodbye Kenora, but we do it all tomorrow in Thunder Bay,” for example. It is these kinds of Canadian towns that has kept the rock alive through trends and changing winds. Walsh proudly proclaims that even though they may never make it to the top, they’re never going to stop.
A great sentiment on which to end a great CD.

“Metal On Ice” completely rocks. Seriously, the first time I played it, I spun it again straight away just because I wanted more. And that leads me to my only complaint with the disc: it’s too damn short.
Highly Recommended

01 – Brian Vollmer – Heavy Metal Love
02 – Lee Aaron – Metal Queen
03 – Nick Walsh – On the Road to Rock
04 – Carl Dixon – Hey Operator
05 – Darby Mills – Don’t It Make Ya Feel
06 – Russ Dwarf – Keep the Spirit Alive
07 – Metal On Ice (Vollmer, Dixon, Mills, Aaron) – Metal on Ice

Brian Vollmer – vocals (1,7)
Lee Aaron – vocals (2,7)
Nick Walsh – vocals (3,7), bass (7) and background vocals
Carl Dixon – vocals (4,7), keyboards and background vocals
Darby Mills – vocals (5,7) and background vocals
Russ Dwarf – vocals (6)
Sean Kelly – guitar and background vocals
Daryl Gray – bass (1,2,4,5,6)
Victor Langen – bass (3) and background vocals
Dave Langguth – drums
Evan Wilds – keyboards and background vocals
Stephan Di Mambro – background vocals
Tyrone Buccione – background vocals
Julie Gibb – background vocals
Stephan Di Mambro – background vocals
Ray Harvey – background vocals
Aaron Murray – background vocals
Josette Beernaerts – background vocals
Jim DeLeskie – background vocals

Sold out
www.amazon.ca/Metal-Ice-Various-Artists/dp/B00FI6YKPC