CD Review: New Celebratory Live Albums From Kai Hansen And Stiff Little Fingers

Near the end of the month, we have two new live albums arriving. One from heavy metal singer/guitarist Kai Hansen on June 23 and the other is from the classic punk band Stiff Little Fingers on June 30.

 

Kai Hansen has been an iconic figure in the heavy metal community for over thirty years, first as a co-founder of the heavy metal band Helloween, then as a founding member of the band, Gamma Ray. In 2016 he released his first solo album and he is now following that up with his first solo live album "Thank You Wacken." It showcases Kai at the 2016 Wacken Open Air festival with his same band that he recorded his solo album with, along with some friends. He begins his set with "Born Free" from his solo album, before diving back to the Helloween classic "Ride The Sky." Hansen and the band deliver the "Contract Song" as if it was the new heavy metal anthem, then singers Clementine Delauney (Visions Of Atlantis) and Frank Beck (Gamma Ray) help out on the Helloween song "Victim Of Fate." Kai duets with Clementine on the eight-minute epic "Fire And Ice," before quickening the pace with the electrifying "Follow The Sun." Kai invites one more guest on stage, Michael Kiske from Helloween jto join them for "I Want Out" and "Future World," before finishing the show with "Save Us" from Kai's early days. This new live album from Kai Hansen will be released in CD/DVD, CD/Blu-ray and 2LP vinyl format. To find out more about Kai Hansen and his new release "Thank You Wacken," please visit his Facebook page at facebook.com/kaihansenofficial.

 

Irish punk band Stiff Little Fingers is celebrating their 40th anniversary with a new live album titled "Best Served Loud: Live At Barrowlands." It was recorded last year at the Barrowland Ballroom in Glasgow as the band run through their entire career in 20 songs. They begin the night with the bashing of "Wasted Life" from the band's 1977 album "Inflammable Material." They perform all their material, without stopping, keeping the energy flowing through "Roots, Radicals, Rockers, Reggae" and "Nobody's Hero" from the band's second album. They deliver the love song "Barbed Wire Love" with renewed energy and showcase music from their latest album with "Guilty As Sin" and "My Dark Places." They wrap up their new live album with the reckless punk fury of "Suspect Device" and "Alternative Ulster." To find out more about Stiff Little Fingers and their latest release "Best Served Loud: Live At Barrowlands," please visit slf.rocks.