(Heavy Metal / Power Metal) Ross The Boss - Hailstorm (Limited Edition) - 2010, APE (image+.cue+scans) lossless

History

Friedman joined the New York based proto-punk band The Dictators as a guitarist in 1973. After recording three albums with them, Friedman went to France and worked for one year in Fabienne Shine's band Shakin' Street. On Black Sabbath's Heaven and Hell tour in 1980 (on which Shakin' Street were the support act), Friedman met bass player Joey DeMaio. Later in 1980, Friedman and DeMaio formed Manowar, with whom he recorded six albums before leaving the band after the 1988 album Kings of Metal.
Timeline

In 1994, he had a blues rock band called "Heyday" and in 1999 he vowed to put the fun back in Rock-N-Roll with "The Spinatras".

2004 saw him join Albert Bouchard, the original drummer for Blue Öyster Cult, in his band Brain Surgeons. He also recorded an instrumental album with Dictators drummer JP Thunderbolt Patterson.

In July 2005, Ross joined Manowar onstage at the Earthshaker Festival. The songs he performed with them were "Metal Daze" and "Dark Avenger". At the end of the concert he also performed "Battle Hymn" along with past and present members of Manowar.

In April 2006, he played one night of early Manowar Music at the Keep It True IV Festival in Germany, backed by German Manowar cover band Men Of War, featuring members of German groups Ivory Night and Divinus. The band, now known as The RTB Band, went on to play some more festivals in Germany, Italy and Greece and then began working on new original material.

In October 2006, he reunited with The Dictators to play Friday and Saturday nights of the closing weekend at punk rock venue CBGBs, one of the clubs where they got their start.

2007 started off with an eleven city tour of Spain with JP Patterson and their Spanish super-band "The Thunderbolts" which also includes members of Bummer and Sex Museum.

Ross guests on former bandmate Fabienne Shine's 2007 LP, Wotan's LP "Epos" where he plays Grand Piano on one track, and Atlantean Kodex's 2007 EP.

Ross' 2008 included a few guest appearances with Manitoba's Wild Kingdom at the 2008 Joey Ramone Birthday Bash, with Shakin' Street at the Sweden Rock Festival, and a few tour dates in Spain with The Dictators. He released a new album in August with his German Metal Band under the name "Ross The Boss" called "New Metal Leader" which debuted at #99 in the German Album charts. The following month he appeared on Inner Demons, the 2nd CD by New Jersey metallers Skullshifter, playing lead guitar on the track "Etched In Sand".

Is this new Manowar? No, that it ain’t. So it’s Rossowar? Closer, but still no. What we actually have before us is Hailstorm, the second album by Ross the Boss. Mr. The Boss was of course the original fret master for the legendary Manowar and he played on all their classic, seminal albums before riding off to seek glory on his own (yes AMG, there really are classic Manowar albums [I resent that statement. - AMG]). So what type of music would one of the founding fathers of sword and furry loincloth metal create in this day and age? Well, those hoping Ross assembled a merry band of Manowar imitators will be disappointed. While there are several unsubtle stylistic nods to his original band (the most unsubtle band of all time), this is way less Mano-thematic than 2008?s New Metal Leader and focuses more on early 80?s style metal and straight ahead power metal. In some ways this departure from his musical comfort zone works, in others it falls just a bit short.

Hailstorm kicks off with a guitar intro very reminiscent of Manowar classic “Bridge of Death” and opening track “Kingdom Arise” is clearly Manowar influenced (especially the chorus and gallop of the drums). However, the bulk of Hailstorm refrains from following in the sandals of the self proclaimed Kings of Metal. What follows is an odd amalgam of modern power metal (“Hailstorm”), really old school early 80?s metal (“Dead Man’s Curve”), more takes on pseudo-Manowar style epic metal (“Crom” and “Empire’s Anthem”) and some Hammerfallesque power ballads (“Among the Ruins”). While all the styles are decently done, it makes Hailstorm feel disjointed, like it suffers from multiple personalities. Regardless of identity issues, Hailstorm fires on all cylinders when Ross and Company zero in on the old school metal as with “Dead Man’s Curve” and “Burn Alive.” Both are simple, rocking and fun nods to the early days of Krokus and Saxon and work very well. If the entire album pursued this style it might have been a tad more successful. Unfortunately, their attempts at traditional power metal and power ballads come across as fairly generic and leaves me cold.

Another element holding Hailstorm back from true metal glory is vocalist Patrick Fuchs. While not a bad vocalist, he is a little nondescript and he doesn’t always fit in with what Ross the Boss is trying to do here. His high pitched voice fits the old school tracks perfectly, but he’s a little out of his depth when they strive for the epic Mano-moods like on ”Crom” or “Empire’s Anthem.” In those cases, someone with a more powerful, commanding voice would suit the material better (someone like Eric Adams for example). One big positive throughout the album is the fret work displayed by Mr. Boss. Regardless of song style, his riffing and soloing are pure heavy metal gold (or should I say steel). In fact, the standout moment to me is the instrumental track ”Great Gods Glorious” where Ross gets to show why he’s the boss.

Although Ross the Boss will always live in the mighty shadow of Manowar, I’m happy he decided to forgo the obvious tribute band route and it’s cool to see him dabbling in other styles. It’s also satisfying to see the old dog teach the “retro” young guns like Enforcer and Wolf a new trick or two when it comes to old school metal. Overall, there are more hits than misses on Hailstorm despite it’s scatter-shot nature and its simple, fun metal. It isn’t a must have but it’s plenty solid and dependable.

Review taken from www.angrymetalguy.com
http://www.roadrunnerrecords.com/blabbermouth.net/news.aspx?mode=Article&newsitemID=146241
http://www.facebook.com/RossTheBoss

Patrick Fuchs - Vocals,Guitars
Ross The Boss - Guitars
Carsten Kettering - Bass
Matthias Mayer - Drums