Artist: Roadrunner United
Album: The All-Star Sessions
Label: Roadrunner Records
Release Date: 10/11/2005
Over the past 25 years, Roadrunner Records have served you up some of the best metal music there ever was.....Carnivore, Obituary, Sepultura, Type O Negative, Life Of Agony, Machine Head, and many more....to great new bands like 3 Inches Of Blood, Trivium, Killswitch Engage, and Devildriver.
So to commemorate the label's 25th anniversary, what do they do? The top brass at the label decided to employ Machine Head's Rob Flynn, Dino Cazares (ex-Fear Factory), Trivium's Matt Heafy, and Joey Jordison of Slipknot to be "team captains" and bring together musicians from Roadrunner's 25 year history for one hell of a collaboration that will have foundations shaking for years to come.
I can't even begin to start going over who played on what and what sounded best and what I thought were highlights without my head spinning, and getting some sort of detail confused. 18 songs, and 50+ musicians make for one intense album. Whats so cool about "The All-Star Sessions" is that its not just some wank off album that was required of the labels roster. These guys got together in their teams and came up with some interesting, unique, spirited, and brutal songs. A 100% was given at all times and these songs could stand on their own, and not just on a compilation type album.
It must be noted that team captain Matt Heafy who fronts the florida based Trivim, is only 19 and managed to round up giants such as King Diamond, Type O Negative's Johnny Kelly, Mike Smith of Suffocation for his portion of the album and wrote them some damn good songs to perform and get their own individual brains around. This kid will surely go far, mark my words.
I love this whole album. I was skeptical at first, as some bands represented I might not have been familiar with or just plain didn't like....but I have to say I was taken by surprise at how solid each song is and how much care was taken with each one. I think "The Dagger" with Killswitch Engage's Howard Jones on vocals is a perfect song to open the album with, and I definitely cannot get enough of the King Diamond track, "Into The Fire". Any fan of true, pure heavy metal must own this album. Its a necessity in my book.
Without trying to get all stupid and cheesy, I gotta say, its albums like these that completely justify all the reasons I love heavy metal, and why I think its honesty, message, and power means the world to fans all over the world. The coming together of some of the genres most revered artists for not just another compliation/specialty disc, but an album that can stand on its own two feet and cut to the core and purity of this particular style of music is a testament to the unity and comeraderie of fans and bands worldwide. Enjoy.
Track Listing/Artist Lineup:
Producers: Joey Jordison, Dino Cazares, Robert Flynn, Matthew K. Heafy
01. The Dagger
Howard Jones (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) - vocals
Robert Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) - rhythm guitar, vocals
Jordan Whelan (STILL REMAINS) - rhythm guitar
Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) - solo
Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY) - bass
Andols Herrick (ex-CHIMAIRA) - drums
Music written by Robert Flynn
Lyrics written by Howard Jones and Robert Flynn
02. The Enemy
Mark Hunter (CHIMAIRA) - vocals
Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) - rhythm guitar
Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) - solo, acoustic guitar
Paul Gray (SLIPKNOT) - bass
Roy Mayorga (ex-SOULFLY, MEDICATION)- drums
Music written by Dino Cazares and Roy Mayorga
Lyrics written by Mark Hunter
03. Annihilation by the Hands of God
Glen Benton (DEICIDE) - vocals
Matt DeVries (CHIMAIRA) - rhythm guitar
Rob Barrett (CANNIBAL CORPSE, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION) - rhythm guitar
James Murphy (ex-TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY)- solo
Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, SADUS) - fretless bass
Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) - drums
Music written by Joey Jordison and Rob Barrett
Lyrics written by Glen Benton
04. In the Fire
King Diamond (KING DIAMOND, MERCYFUL FATE)- vocals
Matthew K. Heafy (TRIVIUM)- lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars
Cory Beaulieu (TRIVIUM) - lead and rhythm guitars
Mike D'Antonio (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) - bass
Dave Chavarri (ILL NINO) - drums
Music written by Matthew K. Heafy
Lyrics written by King Diamond
05. The End
Matthew K. Heafy (TRIVIUM) - vocals, lead guitar
Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) - rhythm guitar
Nadja Peulen (ex-COAL CHAMBER) - bass
Roy Mayorga (ex-SOULFLY, MEDICATION) - drums
Logan Mader (ex-MACHINE HEAD, SOULFLY) - melodic guitar harmonics
Rhys Fulber (FRONT LINE ASSEMBLY) - keyboards, programming
Music written by Dino Cazares
Lyrics written by Matthew K. Heafy
06. Tired 'N Lonely
Keith Caputo (LIFE OF AGONY) - vocals, piano
Matt Baumbach (ex-VISION OF DISORDER) - rhythm guitar
Tommy Niemeyer (GRUNTRUCK) - rhythm guitar
Acey Slade (MURDERDOLLS, TRASHLIGHT VISION) - rhythm guitar
James Root (SLIPKNOT) - solo, harmony guitar
Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) - drums, bass
Music written by Joey Jordison
Lyrics written by Keith Caputo
07. Independent (Voice of the Voiceless)
Max Cavalera (SOULFLY, ex-SEPULTURA) - vocals
Robert Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) - rhythm guitar, 3-part guitar harmonies, keyboards
Jordan Whelan (STILL REMAINS) - rhythm guitar
Jeff Waters (ANNIHILATOR) - solo
Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY) - bass
Andols Herrick (ex-CHIMAIRA) - drums
Music written by Robert Flynn and Phil Demmel
Lyrics written by Max Cavalera
08. Dawn of a Golden Age
Dani Filth (CRADLE OF FILTH) - vocals
Matthew K. Heafy (TRIVIUM) - lead and rhythm guitars
Justin Hagberg (3 INCHES OF BLOOD) - rhythm guitars
Sean Malone (ex-CYNIC) - bass
Mike Smith (SUFFOCATION) - drums
Music written by Matthew K. Heafy
Lyrics written by Dani Filth
09. The Rich Man
Corey Taylor (SLIPKNOT, STONE SOUR) - vocals
Robert Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) - rhythm guitar, keyboards
Jordan Whelan (STILL REMAINS) - rhythm guitar
Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY) - bass
Andols Herrick (ex-CHIMAIRA) - drums
Music written by Robert Flynn
Lyrics written by Corey Taylor
10. No Way Out
Daryl Palumbo (GLASSJAW, HEAD AUTOMATICA) - vocals
Matt Baumbach (ex-VISION OF DISORDER) - guitar, bass
Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) - drums, bass
Junkie XL - programming, synths
Music written by Joey Jordison and Matt Sepanic
Lyrics written by Daryl Palumbo
11. Baptized in the Redemption
Dez Fafara (DEVILDRIVER, ex-COAL CHAMBER) - vocals
Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) - rhythm guitar
Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) - solo, wah wah guitar
Paul Gray (SLIPKNOT) - bass
Roy Mayorga (ex-SOULFLY, MEDICATION) - drums
Music written by Dino Cazares and Roy Mayorga
Lyrics written by Dez Fafara
12. Roads
Mikael Åkerfeldt (OPETH) - vocals
Josh Silver (TYPE O NEGATIVE) - keyboards, backing vocals
Music written by Josh Silver
Lyrics written by Mikael Åkerfeldt
13. Blood & Flames
Jesse David Leach (SEEMLESS, ex-KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) - vocals
Matthew K. Heafy (TRIVIUM) - lead, rhythm and acoustic guitars, vocals
Josh Rand (STONE SOUR) - rhythm guitars
Mike D'Antonio (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) - bass
Johnny Kelly (TYPE O NEGATIVE) - drums
Music written by Matthew K. Heafy
Lyrics written by Jesse David Leach
14. Constitution Down
Kyle Thomas (ex-EXHORDER, FLOODGATE) - vocals
Matt DeVries (CHIMAIRA) - rhythm guitar
Rob Barrett (CANNIBAL CORPSE, ex-MALEVOLENT CREATION) - rhythm guitar, trade-off solo
James Murphy (ex-TESTAMENT, DEATH, OBITUARY) - intro solo
Andy La Rocque (KING DIAMOND) - trade-off solo
Steve DiGiorgio (TESTAMENT, SADUS) - fretless bass
Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) - drums
Music written by Joey Jordison
Lyrics written by Kyle Thomas
15. I Don't Wanna Be (A Superhero)
Michale Graves (ex-MISFITS) - vocals
Matthew K. Heafy (TRIVIUM) - lead and rhythm guitars
Justin Hagberg (3 INCHES OF BLOOD) - rhythm guitars
Mike D'Antonio (KILLSWITCH ENGAGE) - bass
Dave Chavarri (ILL NINO) - drums
Music written by Matthew K. Heafy
Lyrics written by Michale Graves
16. Army of the Sun
Tim Williams (BLOODSIMPLE, ex-VISION OF DISORDER) - vocals
Robert Flynn (MACHINE HEAD) - rhythm guitar
Jordan Whelan (STILL REMAINS) - rhythm guitar
Christian Olde Wolbers (FEAR FACTORY) - bass
Andols Herrick (ex-CHIMAIRA) - drums
Music written by Robert Flynn and Dave McClain
Lyrics written by Tim Williams
17. No Mas Control
Cristian Machado (ILL NINO)- vocals
Dino Cazares (FEAR FACTORY) - rhythm guitar
Souren "Mike" Sarkisyan (SPINESHANK) - harmony guitar
Andreas Kisser (SEPULTURA) - harmony solo
Marcelo Dias (ex-SOULFLY) - bass
Dave McClain (MACHINE HEAD, ex-SACRED REICH) - drums
Music written by Dino Cazares and John Sankey
Lyrics written by Cristian Machado
18. Enemy of the State
Peter Steele (TYPE O NEGATIVE) - vocals, keyboards
Steve Holt (36 CRAZYFISTS) - rhythm, acoustic and slide guitar
Dave Pybus (CRADLE OF FILTH) - bass
Joey Jordison (SLIPKNOT) - drums
Josh Silver (TYPE O NEGATIVE) - keyboards, samples
Music written by Joey Jordison and Matt Sepanic
Lyrics written by Peter Steele
Roadrunner Records 
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Roadrunner United: The All-Star Sessions
