Heavy Metal Resource Reviews-Zan/Cody, Sinner, Chez Kane, Tesla, & V.B.O.

Index

I had been wanting some Shotgun Messiah for a very long time. I have always been a huge fan of the band and the only disappointing thing is the lack of output. 3 great albums and an EP, but it's been a long time. The Zan/Cody thing was a bit of a surprise. Zinny Zan and Harry Cody from the first Shotgun Messiah album together again for an album. I understand this could be multiple albums with Frontiers. I absolutely love this album. So many different personalities with the music. Sure, there's a hard rock core, but the vibe is different through this album. Zan brings a great approach to the lyrics and vocal work and Cody just shreds. He was always very underrated and this album shows just how good he is. Really focus on the solos. That is where I had a lot of fun with this album. Overall, great songs! This is definitely top 5 for the year for me!

Release Date: July 24, 2026

Always liked Sinner. I guess that all good things come to an end eventually. 'Boom Bang Goodbye' is a final offering from the band and it ends up being quite a party. The songs are well written and not only do you get the usual punch to the music, but there really is quite a bit of melody throughout the album. If you are going to throw a party, inviting great friends is a must. The guest list is impressive, from musicians to vocalists. Everyone brought their game to give the band a send off on a high note. This album will probably end up being one of my most favorite records by the band. Not only due to it being their final, but it feels very complete to me. Each track is highlighted by the guest musicians and the songs end up being quite memorable. Sinner has been in my player for a long time and will still be there for a long time to come!

Release Date: July 31, 2026

Kind of late on this one. I had a hard time getting a copy of this album on CD. Amazon is finally stocking them at a reasonable price. The album is great! Chez Kane has a powerful set of pipes and the music has plenty of musical flash to go along with her vocals. The sound is very 80's. Keyboards, Saxophone, great guitar solos. It's all there. The music is all upbeat tempo type stuff. Kind of party rock style stuff if you remember that going on back in the heyday of the 80's. As we have followed Kane's career, she has definitely evolved. Not totally in style but more in confidence. With a great voice to begin with, she has been able to hold her own through the first few albums against other acts. The confidence is building however. You can feel it in this release. Danny Rexon is once again on board on the chemistry really works here. Another fun journey with great flash!

Release Date: March 27, 2026

Hard to believe Tesla is at their 4 decade mark. I remember 'Mechanical Resonance' very well and got to see them twice on that tour. The band does tour a bit still and occasionally you see something released. This album is a covers record that pays respect to a lot of the greats that came before them and influenced their sound in various ways. It's an interesting track selection. Some very vintage stuff on this record like The Temptations' 'I Wish It Would Rain' from way back in 1967. A lot of rock bands cover rock songs not totally different from what the band does at it's core. This record is different that way. A lot of different artists from different genres are covered and all very respectfully. The band says that this is not imitation but more of an acknowledgement of the importance of these bands. It's a trip down memory lane for sure and an interesting listen!

Release Date: July 17, 2026

I wasn't sure what to make of this one initially. At the front of this band is Italian power metal vocalist Francesco Cavalieri from Wind Rose. Also in the collaboration is electronic music producer Simone Giusti and the results ended up being pretty cool. This record features a hybrid sound with there being some rock fused with an 80's sounding synthwave mix. The music is quite catchy and covers a bit of ground as you take this musical journey. The album opens with an intro piece based in opera and then goes much more bombastic after that. Not sure how the rock community will feel about this record as I feel it leans to the more synthwave dance side of things, but hearing the band cover 'The Wild Boys' from Duran Duran and ending it with more edgy vocal work toward the end was a cool as hell touch. Definitely different but fun as well!

Release Date: July 24, 2026