Hard Rock/Heavy Metal

KISS and Def Leppard a blazing double bill: review

Both bands repeatedly thrilled the sold-out Amphitheatre crowd of 16,000.  Nick Krewen Music, Published on Wed Aug 13 2014 KISS and Def Leppard 3.5 stars At the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre, Aug. 12. Does Gene Simmons’ fire-breathing swordplay, bloodied mouth shtick and ever-undulating serpentine tongue ever get old? Not if you’re a member of the KISS Army. The larger-than-life, cartoon-costumed, makeup-sporting hard rockers have entrenched the routines so heavily into their…


Mötley Crüe shout at the devil one last time

The band’s All Bad Things Must End tour gave Toronto fans quite the send-off last night. Opener Alice Cooper gave a masterful performance, too. Nick Krewen Music, Published on Mon Aug 11 2014 Mötley Crüe/Alice Cooper Molson Canadian Amphitheatre Sunday, Aug. 10, 2014 3 stars If the All Bad Things Must End tour is truly the final hurrah for Hollywood heavy-metal mavens Mötley Crüe, then that was quite the send-off…


Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne at Toronto’s ACC: review

Energized by its first ever chart-topping album, Black Sabbath gives fans a magical night to remember. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Thu Aug 15 2013 Special To The Star     Black Sabbath At the Air Canada Centre, Aug. 14. After 44 years of juggling prosperous bands and solo careers, as well as a TV show that became a prototype for some of the reality dreck currently inhabiting the…


Guns N’ Roses is quantity over quality: Review

Never let it be said that California hard rockers Guns N’ Roses short shrift you on the music-for-money exchange. By: Nick Krewen Music, Published on Tue Jul 16 2013     Guns N’ Roses Sound Academy, July 15 2.5 stars Never let it be said that California hard rockers Guns N’ Roses short shrift you on the music-for-money exchange. If anyone felt slighted at forking over anywhere between $125 to…


Soundgarden rocks it out at the Sound Academy

Soundgarden rocks it out at Sound Academy With tundra-tough riffs and pounding rhythms, Soundgarden rocks it out at the Sound Academy at Polson Pier Friday night. By: Nick Krewen Special to the Star, Published on Sat Jan 26 2013 It wasn’t without a small amount of irony that Soundgarden’s opening salvo at the Sound Academy Friday night happened to be “Been Away Too Long.” It’s only been a couple of…