LIBERTY N JUSTICE - THE CIGAR CHRONICLES VOLUMES 1 & 2

The latest release from veteran rockers Liberty N Justice is a 26 song opus entitled The Cigar Chronicles Vol. 1 & 2. Justin Murr & JK Northrup have assembled another who’s who of melodic hard rock and put together a cavalcade of musical bliss. Top notch performances which drive the feel good release of the year.

The Cigar Chronicles is a two disc release broken into Volume 1 & Volume 2. Volume 1 follows the trend of the last 5-6 years with an array of covers, LNJ paying tribute to a wide array of artists, which include the following songs and guest performers;

1. "Ice Ice Baby" Seann Nicols (Adler's Appetite/ Tarsha) & Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister) originally recorded by Vanilla Ice

2. "I Can't Dance" Stevie Rachelle (TUFF) originally recorded by Genesis

3. "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" CJ Snare (Firehouse/ Rubicon Cross), George Lynch (Dokken/ Lynch Mob), & Jeff Pilson (Dokken/ Foreigner) originally recorded by U2

4. "Stayin' Alive" Kip Winger (Winger) originally recorded by The Bee Gees

5. "YMCA" Kelly Keeling (Baton Rouge & Trans Siberian Orchestra), Chris Dickens (Mission Of One) & Neil Zaza, originally recorded by The Village People

6. "Iris" Tony Harnell (TNT/ Westworld) & Alex Grossi (Quiet Riot/ Hotel Diablo)
originally recorded by The Goo Goo Dolls

7. "You're So Vain" Phil Lewis (LA Guns) & Chris Green (Rubicon Cross/ Furyon)
originally recorded by Carly Simon

8. "Queen Of The Night" Selena McVey & Brooke St. James (Tyketto)
originally recorded by Whitney Houston

9."Blame It On The Rain" Andrew Freeman (Hurricane/Offspring/30 Stones), Pete Fry (Far Cry) & Eric Ragno (Liberty N' Justice) originally recorded by Milli Vanilli

10. "Bye Bye Bye" Chas West (Bonham) & Jeff LaBar (Cinderella) originally recorded by N'Sync

11. "Dancing On The Ceiling" James Christian (House Of Lords) originally recorded by Lionel Ritchie

12."Stuck In The Middle With You" Larry Worley (FearNot), Ron "Bumblefoot" Thal (Guns N' Roses), Andy Robbins (Holy Soldier/Joe Lynn Turner), & Anthony Gravley (Windup Rocket) originally recorded by Stealers Wheel

13. "Mmmbop" Jamie Rowe (Guardian), Anthony Gravley (Windup Rocket), Roxx Hunter, originally recorded by Hanson

This compendium of classic songs is vast on the style scale, so I will only highlight what I found to be the strongest tracks. The Vanilla Ice track Ice Ice Baby rocks with a solid groove finds new life in this session.

You’re So Vain clamors for attention as it drives right up and down Sunset Blvd; its late 80’s Los Angeles feel reminds me of the glitz lights and unbelievable night life of Hollywood. The Lionel Ritchie song Dancing on the Ceiling which features the vocals of James Christian, rocks pure and simple. We can add the Hanson and Stealers Wheel covers as well. LNJ drives a musical caravan here that reminds one of the great rock n roll acts from days gone by.

The ultimate highlight from Volume 1 is the Kip Winger vocal on the acoustic version of the Bee Gees classic, Stayin Alive. Having grown up during the disco era I was very skeptical at first, but this song is one of the best of 2012. The dynamics of Wingers performance is stellar, great range and control. He brings so much soul and passion without pretense. The arrangement of the acoustic guitar is fabulous and drives it along.

Volume 2 is thirteen tracks of sheer hard rock genius. The disc is full of original compositions and if disc one has laid out a high expectation, rest assured that disc two passes it. Volume 2 is full of memorable melodies and catchy hard rock ear candy.

This is the list of the of the songs and guest performers on Volume 2

1. "Devil His Dues" Derrick LeFevre (formerly of Lillian Axe), Vic Rivera (Crunch), Michael Feighan (Liberty N' Justice/White Cross/ King James) & Barry Graul (Mercy Me/ White Cross)

2. "The Greatest" David Cagle (Liberty N' Justice), Mark Allen Lanoue (Chasing Karma/ Bilioxi), & Brad Stetler

3. "Cupids Gonna Bleed" Gunnar Nelson (Nelson), Steve Brown (Trixter) with Barry Carl (Rockapella)

4. "Under Construction" Eric Dover (Slash's Snakepit/Jelly Fish), Mark Kendall (Great White) ,Ian Keith Hafner (Jaguar Blaze) & Eric Ragno

5. "Been There Done That" Ted Poley (Danger Danger) & Richard Kendrick (Straitjacket Smile)

6. "Grace" Michael Bormann (Jaded Heart/ Rain/ Charade), Phillip Bardowell (Unruly Child/ Beach Boys) & Mark Slaughter (Slaughter)

7. "Sucker Punched" Rick Stitch (Hotel Diablo), Jerry Dixon (Warrant) & Xander Demos

8. "Broken Bones" Giancarlo Floridia (Faithsedge), Greg Martin (The Kentucky Headhunters) & Chad Stewart (Faster Pussycat)

9. "Sin" Jani Lane, Bill Leverty (Firehouse), & Keri Kelli (Alice Cooper)

10. "Give Em" A Light" Paul Shortino (King Kobra/ Quiet Riot/ Rough Cutt) & Dave Henzerling (King Kobra/Steelshine)

11. "Daddy Long Legs" Louis St August (Mass) & Tim Gaines (Stryper)

12. "Cut Me Mick" Ron Keel (Keel) & Michael Phillips (Deliverance/ The Sacrificed)

13. "Tomorrow" Terry Ilous (Great White/XYZ),Ron Wikso (Foreigner, The Storm, David Lee Roth, Richie Sambora, Cher, Gregg Rolie Band), Alessandro Del Vecchio (Hardline, Ian Paice, Glenn Hughes, Edge Of Forever and Eden's Curse) & PK Mitchell

additional background vocals by Richard Kendrick, Giancarlo Floridia, Phil Vincent, Michael Stover, Frankie Cleaver, Bryan Cole

The real question is where to start because there are so many excellent songs and performances. Of special note would be that this album features the vocal debut of permanent LNJ vocalist David Cagle on the song The Greatest. Having heard this effort I can see why he will be the vocalist going forward. Cagle’s smooth yet husky driving tonality fits in the LNJ mold perfectly. The song itself is pure LNJ, hooky edgy melodic and upbeat.

If you’ve heard any of the samples that LNJ have been sharing around the net the last couple of months rest assured the other tracks are by no means filler. Whether its album opener Devil His Due or the full tilt rocker Been There Done That, with a great vocal provided by Ted Poley from Danger Danger; to one of the pre-released tunes in Daddy Long Legs The Cigar Chronicles is one of the musical highpoints of 2012. I mean how do just keep gushing about how Sucker Punched rocks or Cut Me Mick slices like a razor, while Under Construction is the slow retrospective ballad that goes deep lyrically with an autobiographical bent. Grace doesn’t fall into the same category as many of the other tracks with a slightly more melancholic feel of an overcast day with rain forecast.

Another note worth mentioning is that the song Sin features the last vocal performance of Jani Lane (Warrant) before his untimely passing. One must ponder whether Jani took to heart the lyrics he was singing, the quality of performance leads to think he must have. How could he not?

Top notch production values throughout that bring out the best in the songs and the performances within. Frankly there are so many excellent tunes here to try to discuss them all is simply not possible.

The Cigar Chronicles Volumes 1 & 2 is a collection that is both enjoyable and richly deep. The work ethic is clearly on display and reminds one just how hard it is to put together a composition that is memorable. To put together so many memorable tracks is really amazing. Memo to all you air guitar players and arm swirling air drummers get ready for a hot time in the ole city tonight! This is rock n roll that uplifts and encourages without clichés, CRANK IT UP!!

9 axes

LIBERTY N JUSTICE - HELL'S COMING TO BREAKFAST

Liberty N Justice has returned in fine form with their latest release Hells Coming to Breakfast. Listeners will find themselves given a nice slice of 80’s influenced hard rock. I’ve never been a big fan of ‘hair metal’ label since that conveys nearly nothing descriptive.

LNJ’s previous release Chasing a Cure was a more AOR inspired effort, this album brings its amps set on 10. As a matter of fact musically this release has more in common with their Light It Up release of 2009. The line up of guest musicians is extremely impressive as usual. Here are just a few of the artists who appear…

Seann Nicols (Adler’s Appetite/Tarsha)
Donnie Vie (Enuff Z’ Nuff)
Chris Dickens (Mission of One)
Lynn Louise Lowery (Vixen)
Tony Mills (TNT)
Louis St. August (Mass)
Richard Lynch (Saint)
Jerry Johnson (Saint)
JK Northrup (King Kobra/XYZ)


Whether it's the initial single Stretch Armstrong or Whack a Mole or the catchy title track this album rocks. A lot more grit and bite is evident which carries with it a lot more power and strength this time out.

One of the more impressive elements here is the original acoustic demo of the track Sin, featuring the late Jani Lane (Warrant). A very impressive bit of musical whimsy that seems almost haunting ominous considering the subject matter and the time of Lane’s passing.

Many fans have been waiting for LNJ's double disc The Cigar Chronicles so why is this release now coming? Justin Murr of Liberty ‘n’ Justice has this to say about the release… “We recorded so many songs for our yet to be released 2 CD project entitled ‘The Cigar Chronicles’ and with the delay on this release not happening until 2013 we didn’t want the fans to have to wait that long to get some new LNJ in their hands. So when Bill and Roxx Records approached me and asked if we had anything else up our sleeves we could release, we realized we had to many songs that were not all going to fit on ‘Cigar’ so we took the 6 songs that we couldn’t fit and then recorded another brand new song which is the title track ‘Hell is coming to breakfast’ especially for this release and added 5 more previously unreleased rare cuts and demos just for this one, I am really excited for our fans to hear this collection”

Hells Coming to Breakfast should be a quick grab for fans of quality hard rock with a distinctive 80’s flair. Grab that leather jacket and faded denim jeans one more time, but leave that aqua net at home. This 8 axe affair is well worth the investment.

8 axes

LIBERTY N JUSTICE - CHASING A CURE LP

Many of you will remember that I actually wrote a review of LNJ’s original 5 song EP back in December of 2010. Well I guess you can’t keep a good thing down as our friends at Roxx Records in collaboration with Justin Murr have put this out on CD. (It was originally a download only).

Now not only is this available on Compact Disc, but it has been expanded with 8, yes you read that right, 8 more songs!! It’s no longer an EP, but an LP.

The guest list on this recording is as impressive as ever highlighted by Kerry Livgren of Kansas and Carmine Appice, appearing on a cover of Kansas’s Ground Zero. The full track listing is as following.

1. Say Uncle (Paul Shortino of Quiet Riot / Rough Cut, Ron Keel of Keel & Eddie Ojeda of Twisted Sister)
2. Throwing Stones (Donnie Vie of Enuff Z Nuff & JK Northrup)
3. Paige’s Song (Philip Bardowell of MAGDALEN/Unruly Child/The Beach Boys and Tony Palacios of Guardian)
4. Playing God (Terry Ilous of XYZ, Jeff Paris and Richard Kendrick of Near Life Experience)
5. Chasing A Cure (Benny Mardones, John Pine and Bill Leverty of Firehouse)

“Bonus Tracks”
6. Black Or White (Terry Ilous of XYZ, Alton Hood of D.O.C. & JK Northrup) Originally Recorded by Michael Jackson
7. Quicksand Jesus (Kelly Keeling of Baton Rouge) Originally Recorded by Skid Row
8. Snake Eat Snake ‘Electric Version’ (David Raymond Reeves & Don Webster of Neon Cross)
9. Butterface (Mark Allen Lanoue of Biloxi & Joshua Perahia of Joshua)
10. When Mullets Ruled The World (Philip Bardowell of MAGDALEN/Unruly Child/The Beach Boys)
11. Ground Zero (Kelly Keeling of Baton Rouge and Kerry Livgreen of Kansas/Protokaw & Carmine Appice

They’ve included a couple of demo tracks, which sound good in their own right.
12. "Eve" (Tommy Denander)
13. "Damascus Road" (Tommy Denander)

The newer songs I found to have a bit more hard rock edge to them. The original five tracks struck me as more commercial rock but the 8 newer songs definitely have a stronger guitar presence and that makes all the difference to these ears.

Liberty N Justice has shown that they are capable song writers and this release is no exception. There are a few cover songs, but each one has a strong message in its own right. The production values as on the previous LNJ release Light It Up is world class.

Perhaps something else that has caught my attention is that the vocal performances are stellar. In stark contrast to many vocalists in the rock scene today these guys show more grit, emotion and power while holding a melody! It’s a reminder that good vocals can make or break a song, or an album.


This disc is a must if you love commercial rock n roll like Night Ranger, Bon Jovi or Journey. The disc is being produced in limited numbers so you might not want to wait on this one. A portion of the proceeds of this release will still be donated to benefit The Epilepsy Foundation. The songs and performances are more memorable then most which is why this one gets 8 axes.


8 AXES

LIBERTY N JUSTICE - CHASING THE CURE EP

Super group Liberty N Justice has put out a classy EP just in time for the holiday season. Not only is this ep full of solid hard rock perfection, but the end result will benefit the ongoing medical research of Epilepsy. The title is Chasing the Cure which is

All the proceeds will go The Epilepsy Foundation and their ongoing research to develop a cure for this awful disease. This hits close to home for Justin Murr songwriter and bass player for LNJ as his own daughter suffers from this disease.

Justin and Vic Rivera have crafted a stellar production of great melodic rock n roll, not unlike Night Ranger, Foreigner or Giant. This five song affair features the world class talents of Paul Shortino of Rough Cutt/Quiet Riot/King Kobra, Ron Keel of Keel, and Eddie Ojeda of Twisted Sister, Donnie Vie of Enuff Z' Nuff and JK Northrup, Philip Bardowell of MAGDALEN/Unruly Child/The Beach Boys and Tony Palacios of Guardian, Terry Ilous of XYZ, Jeff Paris and Richard Kendrick of Near Life Experience, Benny Mardones, John Pine and Bill Leverty of Firehouse.

The quality of musicianship itself should convince you to pick this up. It’s only available as a download, there will be no CD available to keep the overhead low, and this will allow the Epilepsy Foundation to gain as much financial reward as possible. The suggested donation for this album is $7.50. If you click on the title of this review you'll go to Liberty N Justice's site.

Even if this release wasn’t attached to the Epilepsy foundation it would be worth your hard earned cash. It really is a great release full of memorable songs that’ll get you singing along right away.

8 axe review.

LIBERTY N JUSTICE - LIGHT IT UP

Who is Liberty N Justice you ask? That’s a good question. I’ve been asking myself that same question for the last 1-2 years. I’ve heard the name tossed about the various Metal Forums but never came into possession of one of their releases, until now that is. Honestly this particular release is one of the best 80’s albums recorded in 2009! With a release date of January 10, 2010 this one is more than worth the wait.

From the opening note of ‘Light it Up’ to the closing chorus of ‘For Better or Worse’ LNJ have hit a homerun to these ears. Justin Murr is the brainchild behind LNJ and the group’s main songwriter. What he has offered here is an amazing collection of catchy hook laden whimsy that satisfies on all levels. Mature but fun sounding songs that'll have you thinking you're listening to XM Satellite Radio's Hair Nation channel. A genre that despite its lousy name has a heritage of fabulous melodic masterpieces.

The production is wonderful with a nice big sound that isn’t lost in a room of reverb.Rich production values with layers of sweetness. You woulda thought that you just popped the shrink wrap off a new Bon Jovi or Def Leppard or Firehouse or Vixen or Bulletboys disc. No members of Bon Jovi participated on this release, but members from the other mentioned acts did. Great tones abound from the drums to the bass to the guitars. The vocal sound is clean and powerful, with a strong natural aura to it. And the vocal melodies are as catchy as glue, if they don’t stick in your head you’re not listening.

It really is difficult to describe except to say that if you liked 80’s hard rock you’re gonna LOVE this CD. It's has the swagger and the attitude but not the excess. It’s not an “L.A.” sound even tho there are elements of it. It’s not the “GNR” sound with the bluesy emphasis even tho you’ll hear elements I suppose. There are influxes of the modern sound but again it’s not dominant. LNJ has taken all of these elements and put together a truly great package. In my head as I listen I can see the big hair swinging around with a huge stage set and lights, a million camera edits. Just like an MTV video on Headbangers Ball, yeah momma!

After reading the following list of participants you tell me if I’m off the mark! Phil Lewis(LA Guns), JK Northrup, Dale and Troy Thompson (Bride), Lynn Louise Lowrey (Vixen), Eddie Ojeda (Twisted Sister), CJ Snare & Bill Leverty (Firehouse), Ted Poley (Danger Danger), Vic Rivera (Crunch), Les Carlson (Bloodgood), Oz Fox (Stryper/Bloodgood), Sheldon Tarsha (Tarsha/Adler’s Appetite), Jeff Pilson (Dokken/Foreigner), Kelly Keeling (Baton Rouge/TSO), Kerri Kelli (Alice Cooper), Pete Loran & Steve Brown (Trixter), Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal (GN’R/Lita Ford), Chris Jericho (WWE Wrestler/Fozzy), Phil Collen (Def Leppard), Harry Hess & Pete Lesperance (Harem Scarem), Marq Torien (BulletBoys), Chris Holmes (WASP), Robert Mason (Warrant/Lynch Mob), Jerry Dixon (Warrant), Shawn Pelata (Line of Fire), Stephen Chesney (Frontiers) also appearing are Eric Rango, Terry llous (XYZ), Chris Dickens (Mission of One), Marc Danzeisen (BulletBoys/Little Caesar), Doug Odell (Crunch/TNA) & John Pine…. Whew!! Typers cramp…… ouch!!

Holy Toldeo, with a line up like that WOW. Believe me when I say this isn’t your typical all star release where the hype takes you to the top and the release doesn’t cut it. Maybe the songs are lacking or the production is hack job. Or the entire project just feels CHEESY. That is not the case here at all. This is a top notch production from top to bottom and everywhere in between.

As I listened to this release I was reminded of the few albums by Mastedon with Dino and Jon Elefante. They brought in quite an array of vocalists to perform which added to the dynamic of the project. Lyrically it’s pretty hard not to hear the Christian influence/worldview yet I detect no clichés but heartfelt lyrics that any believer would be happy to hear.

Listening to this disc I’m transported back in time and I enjoyed every minute of it.

9 axes