Search - Michael Bruce :: Halo of Ice

Michael Bruce - 'Halo Of Ice' (Pilot / NMC Music Ltd.)

Mike Reed | USA | 11/20/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"If you don't remember Michael Bruce right off hand,he was the original guitarist for the Alice Cooper Group on their first seven(7)lp's,from 'Pretties For You' to 'Muscle Of Love'.'Halo Of Ice' was recorded at the Gaukurinn(a club,I assume)in Reykjavik,Iceland in May,2001.Great sound mix,but you need to keep one thing in mind,that Bruce's vocals aren't quite what they were on the 1977 one-lp release of Billion Dollar Babies-'Battle Axe'(see my review).But,nonetheless,he can still carry the notes very decent.Plus,he isn't as dynamic as good 'ol Alice.His guitar playing,however is near perfection,I thought.Twelve tunes here to rejoice over.The first cut "Hello Hooray" is only a thirty-second intro,but at least the back cover lets you know that on the track listing.Thoroughly enjoyed hearing live versions of "Under My Wheels","Is It My Body?","Be My Lover","I'm Eighteen" and "Billion Dollar Babies",but I loved hearing those long-forgotten(by most)deep album cuts,like "Second Coming","Hard Hearted Alice"(deep lyrics,there ...very deep),the gem off the 'Killer' lp "Halo Of Flies"(w/slightly altered lyrics,I noticed),"Caught In A Dream" and "Muscle Of Love".This CD has that 'like you're actually there' sound and vibe to it.The ONLY way I could see this CD ever being beat is that if Bruce and Cooper were to ever play a one-off gig like this and release it on CD.Hey,you never know.Line-up:Michael Bruce-guitar&lead vocals,Ingo Geridal-guitar&backing vocals,Silli Geridal-bass&backing vocals and Egill Rhensson-drums.Comes with a 16-page full color booklet with many photos and informative liner notes of the gig.Would make a nice gift for any old school Alice Cooper fan.Face it,true classic '70's rock&roll will never die.Recommended."

Halo of Pride

clarissa jones | england uk | 03/04/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"One listen to Killer in 1972 and I knew Iwas as big a fan of Michael Bruce as I was of Alice Cooper. He is one of rock's greatest songwriters of all time, so this album was a mouthwatering prospect.
The first thing to get through is this is no greatest hits live package. Michael's vocal is not as it was on the Battleaxe album but as the sleeve notes say, well he had a bad cold, but whatever his restrained vocals work on Caught In A Dream, Eighteen, and Billion Dollar Babies. There is also a very rhythmnic Be My Lover with some very sharp guitar work. But the sting in this album is the playing which takes it onto a different level. Michael is lucky to have such talented backing guys.
Effectively this album is a reinterpretation of Alice Cooper, a totally different treatment of the songs. The sound is more worthy of than any of Alices own bands coming close to the original Killer sound. Exellent playing on Hard Hearted Alice and Halo Of Flies take this on to the level of a rare and beautiful capture of a legendary musician at work with some help on the way from a youger generation. A very special record for me. He can wear his halo with some pride"