My top 3 albums of 2008

Here we go (again):

1. Whitesnake "Good To Be Bad" (wiki)

- we had to wait a long time for this - 11 years in fact - but boy was it worth the wait. If it is the last Whitesnake album, then what a way to go out. Powerful, well produced, and some of the best Coverdale songs penned for many years. DC may not be the live voice of old, but this release sits alongside the old classics of the late 70s and 80s, and indeed takes much inspiration from them - there's bits of them all throughout.

2. Metallica "Death Magnetic" (wiki)

- the midwives of thrash returned with a vengeance. Badly needing to restore credibility following the shambolic St Anger back in '03, Metallica totally succeeded with their best release since the seminal 'Black Album' of 1991. Fast riffs, blistering solos, words of death and destruction, it fitted the darkened economic mood of both the UK and USA. Welcome back to the top table guys.

3. Elbow "The Seldom Seen Kid" (wiki)
- definitely a surpirse choice for me as Elbow seem to be in the alternative/indie rock category, but it's a record that cannot be ignored. It works on so many levels, and crosses so many genres that it's difficult not to like - to me it's a bit prog. Stand out tracks "Grounds For Divorce" and "One Day Like This" shine through with multi-layered musical arrangements pushing many boundaries. Well worth a listen more than once.

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Also on the shortlist:

- Judas Priest "Nostradamus" (wiki)

- Yngwie J Malmsteen's Rising Force "Perpetual Flame" (wiki)

- Stone Gods "Silver Spoons and Broken Bones" (wiki)

- Coldplay "Viva La Vida" (wiki)

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Not on the shortlist:

- AC/DC "Black Ice" - not as good as made out

- Oasis "Dig Out Your Soul" - ditto.

My top 3 gigs of 2008

Here they are:

1. Iron Maiden @ Twickenham, July - by a distance

- with a full 1980s set list, a brilliant stage show, and such a wonderful back catalogue, it really is difficult to fail, and they didn't. A full house at Twickers meant that the coffee shops of Whitton had not seen a Saturday quite like it. Here's Wasted Years from you tube.

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2. Y&T @ The Point, Cardiff, September

- another throw back to the 80s, Dave Meniketti and Co turn in a stunning display down in the Bay. 2 and half hours of classic rock kept the packed house happy.

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3. Status Quo @ Cyfartha Castle, Merthyr Tydfil, July
- and then my surprise choice. Expecting a day out in the watering holes of Merthyr Tydfil rounded off with a bit of music at the Castle, Quo surpassed themselves with a powerful display of great riffing and tunes. Definitely older like us all, age has not wearied them. A highly worthwhile live experience.

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Also on the shortlist were:
- Magnum @ Caldicot Castle, July
- Waysted @ HRH, December
- Saxon @ Cardiff Students' Union, November
- Stone Gods @ Cardiff Students' Union, November

Pontypool 17 Ebbw Vale 23

Well done lads. A Gwent derby win is a Gwent derby win especially at the Park, scene of many a bashing back in the 70s and 80s.

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Yes it was disappointing to see so many mistakes from both sides, but the stand out highlights were Rhys Williams's wonderful charge from halfway for the 1st try, and then Rob Lewis sniping over just after coming on in the 2nd half.

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1st half

Early Ebbw pressure

The Vale pack set up the position from which Rhys Williams was to score.

2nd half

A wintery sun sets at Pontypool Park in December, as Aaron Bramwell lines up a kick.

Vale close out the win deep into Poola territory.

Merry Christmas

Enjoy the Festive Season.
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I'll be back with some pics and clips from our match against Pooler at Pontypool Park on Saturday.

SWALEC Cup draw - Ynysybwl home

Ebbw appear to have received a favourable draw for the next round of the Cup, Division 2 East side Ynysybwl.

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Tie to be played Saturday 24th January.

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Glamorgan fixtures 2009

One of the best bits of news of the last week is the publication of the cricket fixtures for 2009.

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Glamorgan's schedule is here.

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Let's hope for some better weather than we had in 2007 and 2008!

Llandudno 3 Ebbw Vale 70 odd

Anyway, we won. I didn't go.

Let's hope for a home draw.

Garnett Kruger - Glamorgan break their Kolpak taboo

As widely forecast, Glamorgan have moved to strengthen their fast bowling resources by signing South African paceman Garnett Kruger, the first that they've made under the controversial Kolpak loophole.

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Previously with Leicestershire, Kruger won't be classified as an overseas player due to the Republic's trade agreement with the EU.

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It's a good, if unspectacular signing. Back in September, he was tonked around the park at Cardiff, but maybe he knew he was coming?

Either way, his signing, together with Gibbs and hopefully Cosgrove, is a sign that money flows a little freer at Sophia Gardens these days.

Baby Boof Coming Back?

BBC Sports reports today that Glamorgan may be looking at re-signing Australian Mark Cosgrove on a UK passport.

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The chunky left hander hits a hard ball and would be a welcome addition to the staff, having first played over here in 2006.

Mark Cosgrove at Colwyn Bay in 2006.

Not the slightest opening pair: Gareth Rees and Mark Cosgrove at Taunton in 2006.

There's obviously more money sloshing around at Glamorgan. I had a Xmas card from them today!

Bedwas 8 Ebbw Vale 0

In a dreadful advertisement for the so called Welsh Premiership, Ebbw Vale fell to a 4th successive defeat and, quite frankly, rarely looked like crossing the home side's line.

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First half pics

2nd half pics

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Ebbw Vale lacked leadership and direction, and things are starting to look a little worrying.

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With the next 2 games versus Pontypool and Cross Keys, things are looking decidedly shakey. Failure to win at least one of those will lead to the 2nd half of the season being a desperate relegation scrap.

Bedwas away

Tomorrow it's Bedwas away for the Steelmen.

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Never a scene of great rugby, it's always something of a struggle.

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But boy do we need a win following 3 home defeats.

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I'll be there, and I'm quietly confident of seeing Ebbw's first win for many weeks - how wrong you can be!

Hard Rock Hell 2 - Saturday

Blurrgh!
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The 2nd day is always harder, and this was certainly no exception.
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And so at the unearthly hour of 12 midday (unearthly for a festival) it was a case of back to the pub:
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Beholder

First up was tub thumping pub metal from Beholder. Not really my cup of tea, but at least we got a free CD. That said, "Never Take Us Down" was dedicated to the memory of Sophie Lancaster so that went down well.

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Pride Tiger

Then it was over to the Born Again stage for a band making their UK debut - if you can work that out. Unusual for the fact that the lead singer was the drummer - Eagles style. A bit lightweight for this festival, but enjoyable enough.
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Praying Mantis

Next up.
Not a band I remember that well, but they were pretty good in fairness.
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Tygers Of Pan Tang

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Classic NWOBHM from the Tygers and boy did they rock. Fast riffs, great solos, and catchy tunes like Suzie Smiled, Hellbound and Love Potion #9, together with a healthy dose of new material, combined to bring the house down mid afternoon on the Born Again stage. They deserved a bigger crowd, but got a damned good reception from 600 or so that saw it.

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Video clip 1

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Video clip 2

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Waysted

Undoubtedly, the highlight of Saturday for me. Anything that's a bit UFO is usually pretty good, and what a great set from Fin, Pete and the boys. Heaven Tonight the stand out track imho.

The question is, can Pete Way play the bass any longer? Rumours circulated that he couldn't hit a note backstage (he was spotted buying bottles of WKD in the mini market), and the bass was well down in the mix.

Anyhow, they were bloomin' good!

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Video clip 1 - Dead On Your Legs

Video clip 2 - Manuel

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Warrior Soul

Caught these back in the pub at tea time when the beers were kicking in. Powerful, but had one of those 'grunting' singers, that just ain't my bag.

Hawkwind

They genuinely qualify for the veteran label, but deserved to be further up the bill than openers on the Saturday night Classic Rock stage. Pretty good, but a bit samey imho.

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Black Label Society

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As predicted, big chunky riffs, and lots of twiddley twoddley soloing from main man and chief spitter Zakk Wylde. To be honest, I just don't get them, despite an obviously large following, and by midnight, and having suffered their 3 intro tapes and a few similar sounding numbers, I was just plain bored, and had had enough.

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And that was Hard Rock Hell over for the 2nd year. Enjoyable, but lacking the quality of HRH1, both in terms of bands and surroundings.

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As for HRH3, we shall wait and see!!

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Hard Rock Hell 2 - Friday

Oh well here we go again. Following last year's inaugural Hard Rock Hell at Butlin's Minehead, which was excellent, this year we all decamped to the decidedly shabbier surroundings of Pontin's Prestatyn - or Cell Block H as it came to be known. What a dump.

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Anyway, here's Friday's round up.

Big Linda
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This was the first band that I caught and I enjoyed them. An odd mix of Led Zep/ Bad Co and The Killers I'd say. They went down well.

Heaven's Basement

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Highlight of the opening stage were Heaven's Basement, with their high energy, no nonsense rock 'n' roll. Definitely a good booking for a festival.

Video clip

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Heaven's Basement rock the Queen Vic

Benedictum

Benedictum's (wiki) leading lady Veronica Freeman is certainly a strong girl, and they turned in a good set rounded off with the Accept classic, Balls To The Wall.

Video clip

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Budgie

One of my favourite bands (wiki), who aside from a delayed start due to Burke Shelley having sound problems, delivered in their usual driving manner - In For The Kill, Breadfan and Parents the old stand out tracks.

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Now joined by Dio guitar maestro Craig Goldie, whilst Ronnie reunites with Black Sabbath, they are still one of the trusted old favourites who never let a festival crowd down.

Video clip

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Burke Shelley and Craig Goldie

Craig Goldie plays lead guitar for Budgie

Thin Lizzy

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I am totally biased, but they were the best band of the weekend for me. It is difficult to fail when you have such a wonderful back catalogue still delighting audiences - Jailbreak, Bad Reputation, Still In Love With You, Cowboy Song and The Boys.......and many more.

I know there are those who say it's not Thin Lizzy (see heated wiki discussion), but hey it keeps some of the finest rock classics alive and beats the pants off some of the other Metal Hammer rubbish we had to put up with at the festival. And in John Sykes and Scott Gorham, not only do we have the twin guitarists from the final Phil-fronted line up, but they are 2 of the best in the business - I love Scott's playing.

Scott Gorham - still magnificent

John Sykes and Scott Gorham continue to fly the Thin Lizzy flag

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Doro

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A difficult slot to fill for Doro Pesch but at 1 in the morning she did a great job with some of the Warlock classics, and certainly perked up some of the fellas in the crowd.

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I really couldn't be bothered to watch Tigertailz at 2 am, so that was the end of Day 1 for me.