Wild Rose | Dangerous

by Nikiforos Skoumas
- Columnist –

The Wild Rose camp has got to be one of the hardest working in the Greek rock scene; in 2011 Wild Rose debuted with Half Past Midnight, an album that redefined such terms as “retro” and “’80s-oriented” melodic rock. What followed was a multi-album deal with AOR Heaven records under which Wild Rose guitarist Andy Rock put out his first solo album Into the Night along with the second, brand new Wild Rose studio album Dangerous.

To those who bought the previous two albums, it should be clear that the driving force behind this band is Andy Rock. Originally coming out as the rhythm guitarist, for the biggest part, next to lead player John Bitzios and star vocalist George Bitzios, Andy wrote Half Past Midnight in its entirety with the occasional aid of keyboardist Haris Patsios.

As of 2013, John and George Bitzios are officially out of the line up which leaves Andy, Harris, bassist Phill Sakaloglou and drummer Vagelis Domanos in search of suitable replacements. Enter lead guitarist Tiny Carpo and seasoned British vocalist David A. Saylor of melodic rockers Push UK.

A common side-effect of line up changes is the contrastive musical orientation of the new offering. Wild Rose has gone to great lengths to ensure that the end result deviates as little as possible from the original album. Indeed upon first play it will be almost impossible to pick the minute alterations of the new voice of Wild Rose and the same goes obviously for the new lead guitarist.

Once again Wild Rose sound unforced, natural and — unlike most newcomer acts — seem uninterested in proving themselves, instead they celebrate the greatness of Adult Oriented Rock with a classic twist. Pick “I Can’t Stop Loving You,” the melodic orientation of the song is as ‘80s as you can possible get in 2013 and should be more than enough to make the sale. From there onwards the album treats you to such fiery radio rock as “Is this Love,” the protestant opener “Alone,” the playful “If You Still Love Me” and the defiant “Hold On,” a synergy that makes the album an irresistible treat for any fan of the genre.

Conclusively the album’s artistic value is definitely worth a nine out of 10 considering that Dangerous is very likely be looked upon as a classic of the genre in the years to come. However, if one is to place Dangerous in the context of three remarkable releases by a group that seems to never run out of stellar songs, then Dangerous certainly deserves a ten out of ten.

Genre: Adult Oriented Rock, Melodic Rock

Line Up:
Andy Rock (Guitars,Keyboards,Back Vocals)
Phill Gun (Bass Guitar)
Dirty Haris (Keyboards, Back Vocals)
David A. Saylor (Lead Vocals)
Tiny Karpo(Guitars,Backing Vocals)
Junior Domanos(Drums)

Track List:
01. Alone
02. Hold On
03. I Can’t Stop Loving You
04. If You Still Love Me
05. Dream On
06. Awake
07. Tonight
08. I Won’t Forget You
09. Is This Love
10. Not A Day Goes By

Label: AOR Heaven

Hardrock Haven rating: 10/10

Lionville | II

by Nikiforos Skoumas
- Columnist –

There seems to be no rest for a success story in the melodic rock world, and that certainly is true for Lionville. A year after the release of the band’s debut album, Lionville has just issued the second full-length studio effort by the Swedish-Italian AOR formation. Lionville, the brain child of Italian guitarist Stefano Lionetti, is back with its second album under Avenue of Allies records and promises more of the same exquisite blend of Mediterranean and Scandinavian rock.

This time, Lionville seem to emerge with a full-time lineup, featuring Hardline members, keyboardist Alessandro Del Vecchio and bassist Anna Portalupi, guitarists Mario Percudani and Bruce Gaich, along with drummer Alessandro Mori. Star vocalist Lars Safsund fronts Lionville once again, proving that he is committed to the success of the project.

The simply-titled II, picks up where the debut left off, delivering more guitar-driven, though perfectly polished, adult-oriented rock songs. What you get with II is major melodic rock, and its overall optimism causes it to sound a little too white, even by AOR standards. In particular, the absence of a hard-hitting melodic hard rocker tunes in the style of “Heart of Thunder,” which is a highlight of the previous album, is evident.

Upon the release of the band’s debut album, some media were quick to make comparisons between Lionville and Work of Art, often concluding that a good part of Work of Art is embedded in Lioville’s musical DNA. II seems to validate that assessment, with the inclusion of WOA mastermind Robert Sall as an external songwriter. Sall co-writes three key songs on the new Lionville album, including the opener, “All we Need,” while Safsund is credited for “Shining over Me” and “One in a Million.” So, as most would expect, Lionville does not stand musically too far away from the Swedish powerhouse, and that only can be regarded as a major advantage for Stefano and Co.

Once again, II is bound to have a few surprises for those who enjoyed the Lionville debut, and it thoroughly fulfills the demands of the Work of Art/Lionville fan base. Lionville seem to be here to stay.

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR

Line up:
Lars Säfsund: Lead & backing vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio: Keyboards & backing vocals
Bruce Gaitsch: Electric & acoustic guitars
Mario Percudani: Electric guitars
Anna Portalupi: Bass
Alessandro Mori: Drums & percussion

Track list:
1. All We Need
2. The Only Way Is Up
3. Another Day
4. Higher
5. No Turning
6. All This Time
7. Next To Me
8. Waiting For A Star To Fall
9. Don’t Walk Away
10. One In A Million
11. Shining Over Me
12. Open Your Heart

Label: Avenue of Allies

Hardrockhaven rating: 8/10

Vamp | The Rich Don’t Rock (Deluxe Edition)

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor/Senior Columnist –

How’s this for a recipe for success in 1989? Take an up-and-coming European melodic rock band, match them with a producer (Tony Platt) who had previously worked with AC/DC and Foreigner, sign them to a major label (Atlantic) contract, and then… do nothing at all to promote the band or the album. Of all the “should have been huge” stories of the 1980s (and there were several), the story of German hard rockers Vamp is one that still leaves fans baffled. This is a band whose sound would have gone over huge in 1989 with even the slightest push from the label. Instead Vamp died almost as soon as they started, and only the dedicated followers of the ‘80s melodic rock and hair metal scenes knew of their existence.

Vamp may not have had a chance to set the world on fire, but they did deliver an absolute gem to melodic rock fans with their 1989 debut The Rich Don’t Rock. It was an album that hit that perfect mix of European melodic rock and the popular American hair metal sound. Think Bonfire meets Hurricane (or maybe Europe meets Britny Fox), with huge guitar hooks, catchy choruses, and a strong, dynamic vocal performance, plus that uniquely European sense of melody. There’s a bit of a metal edge to these songs as well. More so than the average Poison or Danger Danger album, that’s for sure. Songs like “Heartbreak, Heartache,” “Lonely Nights” and “Renegade” are great examples of Vamp’s powerful arena rocking sound, but the whole album is just a really well written and well executed collection of melodic rock.

Divebomb’s new reissue of The Rich Don’t Rock puts this long out of print album back in fans’ hands, and gives it a true “Deluxe Edition” upgrade as well. It’s a two-disc set that’s loaded with extras. The first disc features the original The Rich Don’t Rock album, newly mastered by guitarist Ricolf Cross, as well as 12” EP versions of “The Rich Don’t Rock,” “Why” and “Shout” as bonus tracks. The remastered audio is a major improvement over the original, and would be reason enough to pick up this reissue. There’s also a second disc though, and that’s where we get a lot of new surprises. It has eight professionally recorded demos from the planned, but never released, follow-up album One Smack Killer as well as seven demos from The Rich Don’t Rock. The One Smack Killer demos are a real eye opener, as they show a band in a much heavier frame of mind not unlike Skid Row, and The Rich Don’t Rock demos have a slicker, more AOR vibe than what eventually ended up on the album. Top it off with a nice booklet featuring original cover artwork (both versions), lyrics, vintage photos and a full band interview and you’ve got a first class reissue in every possible way.

If you are one of the lucky few that already knew about Vamp, then the Deluxe Edition of The Rich Don’t Rock is a mandatory upgrade. If you’re a fan of the ‘80s melodic rock sound, particularly European bands like Bonfire and Treat, and you didn’t catch this album the first time around (or couldn’t track down a copy), this is the perfect way to discover one of the best kept secrets in melodic rock.

Genre: Melodic Rock

Band:
Dicki Filszer (d)
Tom Bellini (v)
Ricolf Cross (g)
Oliver Scholz (b)

Track Listing:

Disc 1
1. Heartbreak, Heartache
2. Like I Want
3. The Rich Don’t Rock
4. Love Games
5. Renegade
6. All Nite
7. Lonely Nights
8. Stand By Me
9. Bleeding
10. Talk Is Cheap
11. Shout
12. Why
13. The Rich Don’t Rock (12” EP version)
14. Why (12” EP version)
15. Shout (12” EP version)
Disc 2
1. Little Bit
2. Love Starved Woman
3. Dead in the Backseat
4. Junkyard D.O.G. (Dirty Old Geezer)
5. One Smack Killer
6. Gimme Some Lovin’
7. I Don’t Know
8. The Big Mess
9. Lonely Nights
10. What About Love
11. Down and Dirty
12. Waste of Time
13. Love Games
14. Don’t Bite
15. Talk Is Cheap

Label: Divebomb Records

Website: www.vamp-rock.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 9.25/10

M-16 | Locked and Re-Loaded

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor / Senior Columnist –

Originally released in 1988, Locked and Loaded was the debut album from New York hard rock/heavy metal band M-16. The band, which was active in the area’s scene for most of that decade, had a sound that recalls Dokken, Leatherwolf and White Sister – a killer mix of hard hitting heavy metal and polished melodic rock. In 1988 you wouldn’t have thought twice about calling them a metal band (especially with their signature gun toting grim reaper logo), but between the keyboards and focus on melody, M-16 is just as likely to appeal to AOR/melodic rock fans.

Locked and Loaded opens with the album’s strongest song, “Much Too Young For Me,” which despite being the best jailbait anthem this side of Winger’s “Seventeen,” is the best song Dokken never recorded. The dramatic guitar work, ethereal vocals (Lenny Thomas hit some great high notes) and painfully earnest lyrical content are recurring themes, and they keep reminding you of what was so much fun about that era’s hard rock sound. You have these totally crunching metal riffs and blazing solos, but it’s on a song asking “R.U. Hot Tonight.” “Shot Down” and the single “Waysted Love” also show off the band’s metal chops, while songs like “Guilty of Innocence” and “Tonite (It’s You)” have a total Autograph/Black n’ Blue feel. Hearing M-16, even if it’s for the first time with this reissue, is like a time capsule that instantly takes you back 25 years. Locked and Loaded has that classic metal vibe and then some.

Heaven & Hell’s new M-16 reissue, titled Locked and Re-Loaded, marks the first time Locked and Loaded has appeared on CD (legitimately at least, as bootlegs have circulated in the past). The reissue not only puts this long out of print album back in fans’ hands, it gives it a nice upgrade. The album has been newly remastered by Jamie King (who remastered Heaven & Hell’s Blacksmith and Overlorde SR reissues, among many others). The improvement in sound quality is quite noticeable. Locked and Re-Loaded also features two previously unreleased demos from 1989 – “The Game” and “Play It Loud” – that give fans a glimpse at what a second M-16 album might have sounded like. Factor in a nice booklet with a band history and some vintage photos and you have a very nice reissue overall.

If you’re a serious collector of cult hard rock and heavy metal from the ‘80s, Locked and Re-Loaded should go straight to the top of your buy list. Fans of classic ‘80s bands on the edge between hard rock and metal in general should check out M-16, and this deluxe reissue is the perfect way to do that.

Genre: Heavy Metal, Melodic Rock

Band:
Glen Oliver (g)
Pete Sivaslian (d)
Steve Vandyke (b)
Lenny Thomas (v) (k)
Kevin Egnor (g)

Track Listing:
1. Much To Young For Me
2. Tonite (It’s You)
3. Dreamgirl
4. RU Hot Tonight
5. Shot Down
6. Guilty of Innocence
7. Waysted Love
8. Why
9. The Game (’89 demo)
10. Play It Loud (’89 demo)

Label: Heaven & Hell Records

Website: www.m16rocks.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.75/10

Brett Walker | Nevertheless

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor / Senior Columnist –

Originally released in 1994, Nevertheless was the debut album from melodic rock singer/songwriter Brett Walker. For this effort, Walker, who himself was a seasoned songwriter, having penned Alias’s top 10 hit “Waiting for Love,” got some songwriting support from some notable melodic rock veterans, including Jonathan Cain (Journey, Bad English), Stan Bush, Jim Peterik (Survivor), Carl Dixon (Coney Hatch) and Nick Gilder. Obviously, 1994 wasn’t the best time to debut if you were a melodic rock artist, but while Nevertheless was largely ignored here in the US, it did quite well in Europe, particularly in the Scandinavian countries.

It’s a shame this album never caught on here in the US, because it’s about as perfect an AOR album as you’d ever hope to hear. If Nevertheless had debuted just a few years earlier, it would have been all over radio and MTV. Imagine Bryan Adams when he still rocked a little, with a solid Journey meets Stage Dolls vibe. It shouldn’t be a surprise, given the writers involved, but literally every song on this album sounds like a top 10 caliber hit. Lead-off rocker “Hard to Find an Easy Way,” “No Fire Without You” and “Didn’t Mean to Say Goodbye” are good examples, but you can pick any song on Nevertheless and be totally blown away. Beyond the gorgeous melodies and the smooth production, Walker’s vocals are what steal the show. He’s got a fantastic range, plenty of power and you can hear tons of heart, soul and emotion in each song.

If you’re a fan of melodic rock, particularly the artists on the AOR end of the spectrum, and missed Brett Walker’s debut the first time around, you are in for a treat. Nevertheless is an absolutely dynamite AOR album, especially now that it has been remastered, and is nothing short of a must have album for anyone who’s a fan of artists like Bryan Adams, Stage Dolls, Mitch Malloy and smooth AOR in general.

Edition Notes: Divebomb’s 2013 reissue of Nevertheless not only puts this long out of print album back in fans’ hands, it gives it a nice upgrade. The reissue boasts a new digital remastering by Jamie King (who remastered Divebomb’s Casanova and Sargant Fury reissues, among many others), and the results are incredible. There’s also a new remix of the song “Midnight Angel” added as a bonus track, and the booklet features a new interview with Walker as well as behind the scenes info and rare photos. It’s a deluxe reissue all-around, which is what we’ve come to expect from Divebomb.

Genre: AOR, Melodic Rock

Track Listing:
1. Hard to Find an Easy Way
2. Lecia
3. Everything I Want to Do
4. Take Me Home
5. Never Gave Roses
6. Quicksand
7. Didn’t Mean to Say Goodbye
8. Bring Back the Night
9. No Fire Without You
10. Bad Time for a Goodbye
11. More Than a Memory
12. Give a Little Love
13. Midnight Angel (2012 remix)

Label: Divebomb Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 9.5/10

Jimi Jamison | Never Too Late

by Nikiforos Skoumas
- Columnist –

It is nearly impossible to claim that AOR legend Jimi Jamison has been one to neglect his fans and audience in any way: 2011 saw the release of two full-length studio collaborations, the highly acclaimed Kimball – Jamison duet album and the lesser known One Man’s Trash where the icon joins forces with rising German guitarist Frederick Zahl. Add to that the release of Jimi’s first live DVD Live at Firefest capturing his 2010 performance at the prestigious UK event and there is not much more you could ask for.

Well, perhaps, there are still a couple of things fans are looking forward to, like an all original Survivor album or a brand new solo effort; It has been a good four years since Jimi’s previous solo offering which makes the release of Never Too Late all the more fitting. For some reason Jimi chooses to have no, or very little, songwriting input on his solo albums, and Never Too Late proves to be no exception, being composed entirely by Eclipse mastermind Eric Martensson with the help of Magnus Henriksson and Miqael Persson.

Those familiar with Eclipse and the members’ side projects should well expect the new album to come out considerably heavier than its predecessor Crossroads which was written by founding Survivor member Jim Peterik. Never Too Late is indeed a guitar-driven album featuring big drums, a fair amount of keyboard melodies and pretty straightforward songwriting. Speaking of songwriting, Never Too Late comes closer to the style of Kimball-Jamison and Empires rather than Survivor. Implying that the new Jamison album owes a lot to the Frontiers ‘house-sound.’ That is not to say however that Never Too Late does not include a good handful of memorable melodic rockers; going beyond the somewhat predictable title track. There is the opener “Everybody’s Got a Broken Heart” which perfectly sets the mood of the entire release, the subtle but also intense adult oriented rocker that is “Not Tonight,” the Survivor-esque “Calling the Game,” the cleverly-arranged “Bullet in the Gun” and the unsurpassed “Street Survivor” easily one of the best songs and performances in the singer’s entire repertoire.

Overall, Jimi Jamison has once again come on top with his latest release, which provides further proof, if any was needed, that he is still The Voice of adult oriented rock. There is no point for one to recommend this release since brand Jamison is an absolute guarantee for quality.

Genre: AOR, melodic rock, melodic hard rock

Line up:
Jimi Jamison – Lead Vocals
Erik Mårtensson – Lead & Rhythm Guitar. Bass, Keyboards & Backing Vocals
Magnus Ulfstedt – Drums
Jonas Öijvall – HammondB3, Piano & Synthesizers
Magnus Henriksson – Lead Guitar

Track List:
Everybody’s Got A Broken Heart
The Great Unknown
Never Too Late
I Can’t Turn Back
Street Survivor
The Air I Breathe
Not Tonight
Calling The Game
Bullet In The Gun
Heaven Call Your Name
Walk On (Wildest Dreams)

Label: Frontiers Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10

Issa | Can’t Stop

by Mark Allen
- Senior Columnist –

Norwegian melodic rock princess Issa Oversveen returns with her third album in as many years. This time she’s hopping on the covers album bandwagon and while that bandwagon is as overdone as a kielbasa left on the grill for too long, Issa’s particular bandwagon rolls in a slightly different direction. Instead of covering a bunch of moldy oldies or overplayed hits, she has delved deep into the vaults of cult AOR and dusted off some little-known gems from the likes of Aviator, 21 Guns, and Tangier, to name just a few. Diehard melodic rockers will be familiar with at least several of these songs, but this will seem like new material to more casual fans.

Unfortunately, not all this material is of equal quality; far too often while listening to Can’t Stop you will come to the conclusion that a song was decent enough, but ultimately nothing all that special. “Underwhelming” is the adjective that most often comes to mind. There are exceptions—for example, Issa’s versions of “Just a Wish” by 21 Guns and “I Won’t Surrender” by Steelhouse Lane are really good—but for the most part this album lacks pizzazz and pales in comparison to Issa’s original compositions.

Compounding the problem is the fact that the pristine production that was a crucial component of Issa’s earlier work is absent here. This album should sound immaculate and forceful but instead just sounds… average. While it would be overly harsh to call the mix muddy, it certainly does not sound as crisp and clean as it should. Really not helping matters is the lack of control Issa occasionally exhibits when it comes to her vocals, especially when reaching for those high notes. Most of the time she is perfectly fine, her vocals as angelic as ever, but every now and then a note screeches through the speakers that may put a wince on your face instead of a smile.

That said, it is testimony to Issa’s melodic rock skills that even with all this damnation laid at her feet, this album is still a safe — though nothing more — purchase for AOR aficionados. Sure, it could have, perhaps even should have, been much better, but it also could have been the sonic equivalent of liquefied dog crap. It’s not an essential purchase, but nor is it a total waste of money like so many other covers albums released by more famous bands (yeah, we’re looking at you, Poison and Def Leppard).

Bottom line, Can’t Stop is neither debacle nor delight. Issa fans who approach this album with their expectations on a short leash will find it serviceable, but serviceable does not suit this AOR goddess. Her debut was excellent, her sophomore effort was good, and now her third outing is just okay. If she can’t stop these diminishing returns when it comes to the quality of her albums, she’ll be in danger of becoming just another forgotten footnote in the annals of melodic rock history. While Can’t Stop is not bad enough to make fans flee like rats from a sinking ship, it is her weakest effort to date. Here’s hoping she comes roaring back in a year or two with a big dose of bombast that makes everyone forget just how average this latest album is.

Genre: AOR, Melodic Rock

Band:
Issa (Isabell Oversveen)—lead vocals
Alessandro Del Vecchio—keyboards
Mario Percudani—guitars
Anna Portaluppi—bass
Alessandro Mori—drums

Track Listing
1. Can’t Stop
2. Power Over Me
3. Wherever You Run
4. Just a Wish
5. If You Ever Fall
6. Do You Ever Think of Me
7. Dream On
8. Stranded
9. Heat of the Night
10. I Won’t Surrender
11. State of Love
12. These Eyes

Webpage: www.facebook.com/issa.oversveen

Label: Frontiers Records

Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10

John Taglieri | The Very Best Of John Taglieri – The Songs That Should Have Made Me Rich

by Joe Mis
- Senior Columnist –

The Very Best Of John Taglieri – The Songs That Should Have Made Me Rich is the tongue-in-cheek title of singer, songwriter John Taglieri’s 10th CD release – a twenty track retrospective of his work from 1999 to the present. An active rocker since 1999, John has pulled 2 tracks from each of his previous releases and added two previously unreleased ones in order to give the listener a solid feel for his solo work as well as his work with his band, TAG. Radio-friendly and easy on the ears, this album is a winner.

John Taglieri is a complete musician and talented multi-instrumentalist. He has a good voice, well-suited for the mellow melodic rock he enjoys. At times his music can be compared to Bon Jovi or Firehouse – in other words, good natured and generally upbeat guitar rock. His enunciation is very clean and clear, and he never exceeds his range while always managing to convey emotion and enthusiasm. Taglieri is a full do-it-yourself-er composing, playing, recording, producing and selling his works (and doing a good job of it all). He seems equally comfortable whether fronting a full band or sitting with just guitar and microphone.

Highlights include: the rocking guitars of the upbeat “Leap Of Faith;” the well done acoustics and keys on the slow rocker (with a bit of a Firehouse-groove) “Reason To Believe;” the bittersweet and powerful lyrics of “Stay With Me” – probably Tag’s strongest vocal performance on the CD; the whole of the up-tempo rockers “How Will I Know” and “Wide Awake & Dreaming,” with the latter simply a pop-rock toe-tapping, hand clapping classic; the bouncy bass line on the almost pop-country “Make A Mistake With Me” which contrasts nicely with the gritty and driving guitars of “After Farewell;” the hints of Simon & Garfunkel in the folksy “Say These Words;” and the solid performances by everyone on the epic power ballad “Fly.”

Overall, The Very Best Of John Taglieri is a very good album, and the selections paint a good picture of the evolution of an artist. Well written and emotionally performed, these 20 tracks will more than likely inspire any listener to seek out more of Taglieri’s work. There are really no negatives on the album other than sometimes inconsistent engineering, but considering that these tracks were pulled from a collection spanning 12 years differences from track to track are understandable. Thought provoking and rich in simple but effective imagery, Taglieri covers a wide variety of topics and tones without being maudlin or sappy.

Fans of the singer, songwriter and storyteller genre like – Bon Jovi, Firehouse, U2 and perhaps even Springsteen and Clapton – will find plenty to enjoy. Maybe these songs didn’t ultimately make John Taglieri rich, but they certainly enriched the music scene. The Very Best Of John Taglieri – The Songs That Should Have Made Me Rich is the epitome of “feel-good” rock, and proves that there is still a place in today’s cluttered music scene for the independent and enthusiastic performer.

Try it – you’ll like it! Recommended for all fans of modern melodic rock!

Genre: Melodic Rock

Band:
John Taglieri (vocals, guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, percussion)
Guest performers: John Calendrillo (guitars on tracks 3, 5 & 6); Brad Whitley (guitars, backing vocals on tracks 9-16, 19-20); Brian Fechino (guitars on tracks 11, 12, 15, 16); Lee J. Turner (keyboards, strings on tracks 10-16); Sean Faust (keyboards, strings on track 6); Bill Colletti (piano, strings on track 2); Tom Darby (keyboards, backing vocals on tracks 7, 8); Drew Yowell (guitars on tracks 7, 8); Mike Tucillo (bass on tracks 15 & 16); Jeanette Ferguson, Josh Rifkin, and Gina Gerzberg (backing vocals on track 8)

Track Listing:
1. Leap Of Faith
2. Reason To Believe
3. Stay With Me
4. Cross My Heart
5. What It Means
6. How Will I Know
7. Starring Role
8. Wide Awake & Dreaming
9. Everything We Are
10. Living Without You
11. The Lives Of Splattered Flies
12. Make A Mistake With Me
13. After Farewell
14. Say These Words
15. Fly
16. Ghost
17. Losing Me
18. Make Me Believe
19. What I Wanted After All (bonus track)
20. Back To You (bonus track)

Label: Leap Dog Music

Website: http://johntaglieri.com/

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10

Frozen Rain | Ahead of Time

by Nikiforos Skoumas
- Columnist –

It would be fair to say that by 2012 Avenue of Allies records have established themselves as a reliable source of first class melodic rock music; perhaps lacking somewhat in terms of frequency when compared to the leading label of the genres such as, Frontiers Records and AOR Heaven, which put out records every couple of months, yet each time they release an album, they make it count.

That is definitely the case with Frozen Rain; a German melodic rock, AOR band on their second studio effort Ahead of Time. Frozen Rain features guitarist Rik Priem, keyboardist Kurt Vereecke, drummer Hans Vereecke, bassist Vincent DeLart and non other than Carsten Schulz. Now, Carsten has fronted a few German melodic hard rock bands in the past, most notable being Evidence One and Midnite Club, but Frozen Rain is somewhat of a new artistic territory for the vocalist. You see this is far from the melodic hard rock of say Jaded Heart, Mad Max or even Evidence One. In fact Ahead of Time draws upon American adult oriented rock where keyboards, sweet-sugary melodies and catchy rhythm section set the standards.

What Frozen Rain have achieved with Ahead of Time is an album without any dull moments. When Carsten does not sing, there is definitely some incredibly melodic solo performed by the guitar not to mention how well the bass harmonizes with the keyboard melodies and the of course come the unforgettable choruses, clichéd to a point but amazing non the less.

There is no disputing the fact that the new Frozen Rain album holds so many great performances that it would definitely require at least a dozen plays before it sound any less exciting to the ears of the AOR fan. Add to the above that Ahead of Time is produced by Alessandro Del Vecchio (Eden’s Curse) and mastered by the authority that is Dennis Ward and you have a perfectly wrapped melodic rock powerhouse in 2012.

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR

Line Up:
Carsten ‘Lizard’ Schulz: lead and backing vocals
Hans Vereecke: drums
Jurgen Vitrier: keyboards
Vincent De Laat: bass guitar
Rik Priem: rhythm and solo guitars, acoustic guitar
Kurt Vereecke: keyboards, bass guitar, acoustic guitar, backing vocals

Track list:
01. Believe It Or Not
02. Forever
03. Breakin’ Out
04. We’re Gonna Rock
05. Too Late
06. Turn It On
07. Ahead Of Time
08. The Last Dance Ain’t Over
09. Not At Home
10. The Way That You
11. Voodoo Party

Label: Avenue of Allies

Web: http://www.frozenrain.be/

Hardrock Haven rating: 9/10

Chasing Violets | Outside Heaven

by Nikiforos Skoumas
- Columnist –

Those into melodic rock/AOR would probably agree that the past five years have been a very exiting and rewarding period in the life of any fan of the genre; and surprises never cease. Hailing from France, Chasing Violets are the new force in female fronted melodic rock, brought to us by US-based label Perris Records.

Chasing Violets are sisters Sarah and Melissa Fontaine joined by a cast of the usual AOR veterans including Frederick Slama, Robert Sall, Tommy Denander, Paul Sabu and Goran Edman amongst others. You would not be wrong to assume that Slama is the driving force behind Chasing Violets having written the majority of this debut album while tailoring it to the standards of the two female voices. Slama also produces the album, essentially bringing to front all the rocking aspects of AOR (distorted guitars, big drumming) while retaining that radio-friendly musical texture.

Outside Heaven -for the instrumental part- sounds like a mixture of Work of Art and Slama’s AOR Project. The combination of guitars and keyboards is essential to the songwriting, masterfully harmonizing with the vocal melodies, being the main feat of Chasing Violets. Upon first play the two sisters sound vocally identical, sharing a similar tone and style that makes them almost indistinguishable on record. As with the AOR Project and Work of Art, Chasing Violets is primarily a song-oriented project; songwriting comes before performance so one should not expect over-the-top vocal performances or great amounts of guitar shredding. The girls deliver to the demands of each song rather than using the project as a vehicle to promote their technical abilities.

The album opens on the subtle-melodic “I Can’t Love no More” which perfectly lays the foreground for superior AOR tracks such as “No Margin For Error,” “The Price to Pay,” “Above Suspicion” and “You’re my Obsession” which are bound to sound exciting even to the most experienced of melodic rock fans. Outside Heaven is a remarkable AOR debut and one that firmly established the Fontaine sisters as a major force within the genre; one can clearly see the labels of the genre fighting over the rights for their follow up album.

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR

Line up:
Göran Edman: vocals – Philip Bardowell: vocals – Jerry Hludzik: vocals – Dane Donohue: vocals – Rick Riso: vocals – John Barbour: vocals – Tommy Denander: all Instruments – Paul Sabu: all instruments & vocals – Frédéric Slama: guitars & keyboards – Christian Tolle: guitars & keyboards – Robert Säll: guitars & keyboards – Joey Summer: guitars & keyboards – Michael Landau: guitars – Bruce Gaitsch: guitars – Colin Rodgers: guitars – Tim Manford: guitars – David Mark Pearce: guitars – Stefano Lionetti: guitars – Mario Percudani: guitars – Daniel Fontaine: guitars – Eric Ragno: keyboards – David Diggs: keyboards – Alessandro Del Vecchio: keyboards & vocals – Morris Adriaens: keyboards & vocals – Anna Portalupi: bass – Urban Danielsson: bass – Mike Baird: drums – Miri Miettinen: drums – Pierpaolo Monti: Drums – Herman Furin: drums – Pat Thern: drums – Sacha Spiegel: drums

Track List:
1. I Can’t Love No More
2. No Margin For Error
3. The Price To Pay
4. When The Darkness Falls
5. Voices In The Wind
6. Above Suspicion
7. Outside Heaven
8. Hold Back The Dawn
9. No One’s Gonna Hurt Me Anymore
10. A Hole In Paradise
11. You’re My Obsession
12. Cease Fire
13. Just Wanna Be Your Heroin

Label: Perris Records

Web: http://www.chasingviolets.fr/

Hardrockhaven rating: 8.5/10

Andy Rock | Into the Night

by Nikiforos Skoumas
- Columnist –

Those following the melodic rock scene closely would probably agree that Greek AOR group Wild Rose delivered one of the greatest underground releases the genre has enjoyed lately through their debut album Half Past Midnight. It’s been well over a year since their album was released internationally by Retrospect Records so-safe to assume- most fans would be looking forward for a follow up release by Wild Rose and their remarkably-retro brand of adult oriented rock.

Well, instead of a second Wild Rose studio album we get a solo debut by their guitar player Andy Rock in 2012. It is not a stretch to assume that the quality of Half Past Midnight has a lot to do with fact that Andy was offered a solo contract by one of the leading labels of the genre AOR Heaven; which also stands as a guarantee that this solo debut is not going to stand too far apart from Wild Rose.

As a matter of fact Into the Night couldn’t have come closer to Wild Rose musically. Andy Rock utilizes the very same songwriting and equivalent melodies to those found on the Wild Rose debut into making an album whose sole area of differentiation (from the group) are the vocals. The title Into the Night makes direct reference to the Wild Rose album, Half Past Midnight while the artwork concept retains the panoramic view of the city at night. That’s probably a way of saying that the new album is more of the same great melodic stuff.

Honestly it is remarkable how close Andy comes in recreating the Wild Rose sound; with the obvious exception of the vocals, being handled by the guitarist, the guitar tone, the keyboard sounds/effect and the drum production all seem to come out of the Wild Rose album. The end result is definitely up to standards though understandably Andy is nowhere the lead singer George Bitzios is; never the less he manages to pull the whole album off remarkably well, through his reserved-yet-melodic style, sounding considerably more mellow than the band. Aside of the vocals, one has to also give credit to Andy for handling the keyboards and bass as well as the production of Into the Night; the only other major contributor is drummer Giannis Papavasiliou. Songs like “It’s not Over, “Lonely Heart”, “Crying Every Night in the Rain” and “Waiting for your” love could have easily been included on a forthcoming Wild Rose album.

Overall Andy Rock’s solo debut is as relevant an offering in melodic rock as the Wild Rose album hence if you are into 80’s retro-AOR, Into the Night is a must for your collection. It does not get any more old-school than this!

Genre: Melodic Rock

Line Up:
All instruments & vocals: Andy Rock
Drums: Giannis Papavasiliou

Track Listing:
Love is not a Game
It’s Not Over
U Belong to me
Lonely Heart
Cryin’ Every Night( in the Rain)
I Wanna Be With You
Waiting for Love
Without You
Emotions (Instrumental)
Out on the Streets
Into the Night

Label: Cargo

Hardrockhaven Rating: 8.5/10

Magnum | On the 13th Day

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor –

Long running British melodic rockers Magnum are back with a new studio album, their 16th overall, titled On the 13th Day. The band has been active since the mid ‘70s, has released a steady run of albums since reuniting a decade ago, and was one of the first bands to really define the “pomp rock” sound in the early ‘80s. The core of that classic Magnum lineup – vocalist Bob Catley, keyboardist Mark Stanway and of course guitarist/songwriter Tony Clarkin – are still on board, as are bassist Al Barrow and drummer Harry James, who have been with the band since their 2002 reunion. On the 13th Day also marks the return of cover artist Rodney Matthews, whose artwork graced the covers of some of Magnum’s most iconic releases in the 1980s.

To get right to the point, On the 13th Day is the finest album Magnum has released since they reunited a decade ago, and is arguably their best album since 1988’s Wings of Heaven. That’s not a knock against any of Magnum’s recent albums (or even the band’s mostly overlooked ‘90s releases), all of which were quite good. On the 13th Day is just a level above the rest, and the first Magnum album in a while that feels like classic Magnum. Think of all the elements that defined Magnum’s sound – the captivating and majestic melodies, the subtle but vital keyboards, the ethereal and unique vocals and the overall feeling of magic and mystery. All of those elements shine throughout On the 13th Day. Tony Clarkin has always written songs that captured both the mundane and the mysterious, and that’s true here. “All the Dreamers,” “See How They Fall,” even a more straightforward (and totally gorgeous) love song like “So Let It Rain” sounds like it was written with one foot on Earth and the other in another world.

Clarkin’s melodies, when matched with Stanway’s stirring and atmospheric keyboard work, ensure each song on the album sinks right into your head, but it’s Bob Catley’s unforgettable vocals that puts the songs in your heart. He’s as brilliant on the heavier, more epic songs like “Blood Red Laughter” and “On the 13th Day” as he is the lighter songs like the closer “From Within.” Now, all of this is what we’ve come to expect from Magnum over the years, but it just seems like everything on this album – from the songwriting to the individual performances to the production – are more in sync for On the 13th Day. Everything shines, and they all shine in perfect harmony, and the result is an album you’ll keep coming back to time and time again, and songs that will stay with you long after the album stops spinning.

If you’re a serious Magnum fan, you probably don’t need much encouragement to pick up a copy of this album. If you’ve been less than enthusiastic about the band’s output in recent years, however, On the 13th Day may be the album that makes you a believer again. For those melodic rock fans out there that haven’t yet discovered Magnum, you’re in for something special. You owe it to yourself to experience one of the most creative and unforgettable bands in the genre, and On the 13th Day is a great place to start.

Edition Notes: There is a deluxe edition of On the 13th Day available (as a physical release only) that is housed in a digipack (within a slipcase) and features a second disc with six bonus tracks, including live, acoustic and demo recordings of recent Magnum songs. The real gem of the second disc is the demo “Those Were the Days,” which dates back to 1988-89. The album itself is fantastic enough; this version is the icing on the cake.

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR, Pomp Rock

Band:
Bob Catley (v)
Tony Clarkin (g) (v)
Mark Stanway (k)
Al Barrow (b)
Harry James (d)

Track Listing:
1. All the Dreamers
2. Blood Red Laughter
3. Didn’t Like You Anyway
4. On the 13th Day
5. So Let It Rain
6. Dance of the Black Tattoo
7. Shadow Town
8. Putting Things In Place
9. Broken Promises
10. See How They Fall
11. From Within

Disc 2
1. Those Were the Days (demo)
2. Eyes Like Fire (full version)
3. Blood Red Laughter (acoustic)
4. We All Need to Be Loved (live)
5. Shadow Town (acoustic)
6. Moonking (live)

Label: SPV

Website: www.magnumonline.co.uk

Hardrock Haven rating: 9.25/10

Rattleshake | Rattleshake

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor –

The San Francisco Bay Area metal scene in the mid to late 1980s is obviously famous for its thrash metal bands, but there was also a smaller, but still dedicated, scene devoted to Hollywood-style “hair metal.” Rattleshake was one of the lesser known bands from that scene. The band, which featured former Flame vocalist Don McBee, rocked (and partied) hard, opening for several high profile national tours, but they never managed to break free to a larger audience. Had they been from Los Angeles it might have been a different story, but in the end very few outside the Bay Area have ever heard Rattleshake’s music…until now.

Eonian’s 2012 self-titled Rattleshake collection may be short on songs (there are just seven tracks total), but there’s plenty of rockin’ going on! This is full-on, blues-based party rock in the same vein as Junkyard, Gypsy Rose, Britny Fox and to some extent L.A. Guns. You get seven songs about sex, booze and rock n’ roll, and aside from the obligatory (but still pretty solid) power ballad “Never Say Goodbye” they’re all completely upbeat and completely fun. Of course there’s nothing remotely original about what Rattleshake was doing at the time, but we’re talking hair metal here. As long as the songs are fun, the rest is beside the point.

These demos were originally recorded in 1989 but never officially released until now. They’ve been remastered by the original producer, and sound pretty terrific even by today’s standards. In addition, the booklet has plenty of band information and vintage photos. It’s a very nice reissue all-around, and one that looks as good as it sounds. Of course, we expect nothing less from these Eonian titles.

Rattleshake is another great collection of previously unreleased hard rock from the Eonian label. If you’ve been following their previous releases (Murder Bay, Shake City, Charlotte, etc.), you’re going to want this one as well. It’s also going to appeal to just about anyone who still has their old L.A. Guns, Warrant and Badlands albums on heavy rotation.

Genre: Hard Rock, Melodic Rock, Hair Metal

Band:
Don McBee (v)
Ralph Longo (g) (v)
Mark Freesman (g) (v)
Bryan Lujan (b) (v)
Steve Fletcher (d) (v)

Track Listing:
1. Shootin’ Whiskey
2. Gypsy Queen
3. Take Me Down
4. Mudbone Delight
5. Jump On Me
6. Never Say Goodbye
7. Rattleshake Boogie

Label: Eonian Records

Web: Rattkeshake

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10

Bonrud | Save Tomorrow

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor –

It’s been a long time coming, but melodic rockers Bonrud are finally back with the follow-up to their 2004 self-titled debut album. The new album is titled Save Tomorrow and beneath the vivid super-heroine cover by Adriana Melo (of Star Wars: Empire and Witchblade fame) is an album that’s as soaring and inspired as the title and artwork suggests.

This time around, guitarist/bassist/main songwriter Paul Bonrud and drummer Paul Higgins are joined by vocalist Rick Forsgren, a singer many listeners are going to want to know more about after hearing this album. Keyboards were supplied by Eric Ragno, Dave Gross and Richard Baker. Production and mixing were handled by Bonrud as well as Grammy-winner Keith Olsen, whose work on albums by Journey, Foreigner and Whitesnake (among many others), made him the perfect person to handle an album like this with the classic melodic rock sound so obviously in mind.

Stylistically, Bonrud hits that sweet spot between the classic ‘80s AOR of Journey, Foreigner and Loverboy and the more recent European melodic rock of Khymera, Work of Art and the Magnificent. Save Tomorrow is a remarkably consistent album that’s just loaded with killer guitar hooks and melodies, and an unforgettable vocal performance. Forsgren has a strong, steady midrange voice that can jump a couple of octaves seemingly out of nowhere to give these songs an extra kick. He’s a perfect match for Bonrud’s deft guitar work. Bonrud seems just as home on grooving, heavier numbers like “Bullet in the Back” and “End of Days” as he does laying down bombastic hooks in “I’d Do Anything” and “Dominoes” and subtler AOR melodies in songs like “Torn Apart.” Whatever the pace or level of heaviness, Save Tomorrow is twelve songs of completely catchy melodic rock that you will be singing along with by the first spin.

Much like Line of Fire did in 2010 with Momentum, Bonrud proves to the world that Europe doesn’t have a monopoly on high quality modern melodic rock. Save Tomorrow is one of the best pure AOR albums 2012 has to offer, and one that fans of Sunstorm, Harem Scarem, Houston and White Widdow in particular and classic AOR and melodic rock in general will absolutely not want to miss.

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR

Band:
Paul Bonrud (g) (b)
Rick Forsgren (v)
Paul Higgins (d)

Track Listing:
1. We Collide
2. Bullet in the Back
3. American Dream
4. Save Tomorrow
5. Liquid Sun
6. I’d Do Anything
7. Last Sunrise
8. Torn Apart
9. Blinded
10. Dominoes
11. You’re the One
12. End of Days

Label: Escape Music

Website: www.bonrud.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.75/10

The Murder of My Sweet | Bye Bye Lullaby

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor –

Swedish gothic metal band The Murder of My Sweet is back with a new album, their second full-length, which is titled Bye Bye Lullaby. In the two years since their 2010 debut Divanity was released, the band has gone through some changes, notably a new guitarist (Christopher Vetter) and bassist (Teddy Westlund), as well as a move from Frontiers to the AFM label. The core of the band – drummer/songwriter Daniel Flores (Mind’s Eye, Tears of Anger and about a dozen other projects) and vocalist Angelica Rylin – remain, so Bye Bye Lullaby is not far removed from the style of Divanity.

The Murder of My Sweet probably falls into the Gothic metal realm, though there’s nothing remotely “Gothic” (metal either, but that’s something else entirely) about the music on Bye Bye Lullaby, at least not in the Sentenced or Paradise Lost sense. That seems to be the catch-all classification of metal bands with female vocalists (think Amaranthe, Delain and to some extent Evanescence/We Are the Fallen), and The Murder of My Sweet qualifies in that respect. Musically, Bye Bye Lullaby is more or less pop-oriented melodic hard rock, relying on catchy melodies and lush but not really atmospheric keyboards. There’s enough crunch in the guitar sound to call this metal if you’re feeling charitable, but Huntress or Benedictum this isn’t. The main selling point is Angelica Rylin’s vocal performance, and she does not disappoint. She has a clear, strong voice that gives these songs a good sense of emotion and drama, though she sounds like she’d be just as at home in a Kelly Clarkson/Katy Perry dance pop setting.

Bye Bye Lullaby is a very solid album, but perhaps not in a good way. It’s an album you can hear multiple times and while you know on some level that it’s enjoyable, you’d be hard pressed to identify one or two songs that really stand out. The vocals are pretty, as are the melodies, but beyond that there’s just not a lot that makes The Murder of My Sweet stand out from a growing pack of poppy rock/metal bands with female singers. Of course if you’re a die-hard fan of this kind of music that may not be a problem at all. Casual fans looking for something truly special in the genre probably aren’t going to find it here though.

Genre: Gothic Metal, Melodic Rock

Band:
Andreas Lindahl (k)
Daniel Flores (d) (k) (v)
Christopher Vetter (g)
Teddy Westlund (b)
Angelica Rylin (v)

Track Listing:
1. Armageddon
2. Fallen
3. Unbreakable
4. I Dare You
5. Violently Peaceful
6. Meant to Last Forever
7. Idolize
8. Kind of Lousy
9. The One
10. Resurrection
11. Waiting for the 27th
12. Black September
13. Phantom Pain

Label: AFM

Website: www.themurderofmysweet.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 7.5/10

Loverboy | Rock n’ Roll Revival

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor –

It’s been five years, but Canadian AOR mainstays Loverboy (yes, the Loverboy that worked for the weekend and briefly made red leather pants seem like a good idea) are back with a new studio album… sort of. For their latest offering, the first since 2007’s very underrated Just Getting Started, the band serves up just three brand new songs alongside nine re-recordings of previous Loverboy hits. Not quite what fans were hoping for, but new Loverboy tunes are always a good thing, and if done right even re-recordings can be fun.

Rock n’ Roll Revival is the title of this collection, and given the recent surge in popularity of the ‘80s AOR bands (and some very successful tours alongside Journey and similar bands), it’s a good name for a Loverboy collection. The album gets started with the new songs, all of which are produced by the legendary Bob Rock (Metallica, Bon Jovi, Aerosmith). It opens with the title track, an upbeat rockin’ number that harkens back to Loverboy’s signature early ‘80s style. The mellow quasi-ballad “No Tomorrow” comes next, followed by the up-tempo (and surprisingly sweet) “Heartbreaker,” both of which fit the more relaxed and soulful vibe of Just Getting Started. These new songs are very strong, very catchy, and worth the price of admission.

Sadly, the rest of the album – the majority of the album – is where Rock n’ Roll Revival stumbles. With their studio albums still in print and countless greatest hits packages on the market, was there really any need for another look at Loverboy’s hits? It doesn’t help that the band doesn’t really sound all that motivated or excited to be playing these songs yet again. Working for the weekend? Mike Reno sounds tired enough to barely convince us he’s working for Wednesday night. The rest of the songs don’t fare much better, but “Lovin’ Every Minute of It” is another low-light.

If this was a full album that mirrored the strength of the first three songs, Rock n’ Roll Revival would have earned a much higher rating. Instead it just feels like a missed opportunity. Obviously the die hard Loverboy fans are going to want to check this out, but even they ought to consider skipping this album and simply downloading (legally, of course) the three new songs.

Genre: AOR, Melodic Rock

Band:
Mike Reno (v)
Paul Dean (g)
Doug Johnson (k)
Matt Frenette (d)
Ken “Spider” Sinnaeve (b)

Track Listing:
1. Rock n’ Roll Revival
2. No Tomorrow
3. Heartbreaker
4. Turn Me Loose
5. Working for the Weekend
6. Lovin’ Every Minute
7. The Kid Is Hot Tonight
8. Lucky Ones
9. Always on My Mind
10. Queen of Broken Hearts
11. When It’s Over
12. Hot Girls in Love

Label: Frontiers

Website: www.loverboyband.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 6.5/10

Murder Bay | Never Was an Angel

by Justin Gaines
- News Editor –

It seems like every year enterprising labels manage to dig up previously unreleased material from lesser known ‘80s rock bands. More often than not, you can tell right away why no one had released it until now. The Eonian label has earned a reputation for putting out some real gems though, and their Murder Bay collection Never Was an Angel is no exception.

Murder Bay was active in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, and while they hailed from San Francisco, their sound was way more suited to the Hollywood hair metal scene. The term “should have been huge” gets tossed around pretty casually, but in Murder Bay’s case it really does apply. This is a band that should have been all over radio and MTV in the early ‘90s. Maybe not Poison or Warrant huge, but they should have at least got the coverage bands like Danger Danger and Trixter got. Murder Bay’s sound was an almost perfect slice of hair metal. Not too obnoxious (they did innuendo but never wrote songs about their junk), not too twangy, not too AOR – it’s the sweet spot between Warrant, Steelheart and Y&T (who had to be a huge influence on the band). Their songs have catchy hooks, simple and infectious melodies, choruses that are easy to sing along with, and a nice hard rocking backbone – pretty much everything good about the old hair metal days and none of the cheese.

Never Was an Angel contains Murder Bay’s 1990 demo recordings, presented on CD for the first time. The songs have all been remastered, and sound terrific. Honestly, you never get the impression that you’re listening to demos here. There are also nice liner notes with vintage photos and band info. It’s the kind of great looking and great sounding collection we’ve come to expect from Eonian.

If you still spin your old Ratt and White Lion CD’s on a regular basis, you definitely want to pick up Never Was an Angel. Murder Bay is a band that just about any fan of the hair metal heyday needs to hear, even if it is coming 20+ years later.

Genre: Hard Rock, Hair Metal, Melodic Rock

Band:
John Link (d) (v)
Bobby Reid (b) (v)
Paul Trombetta (v)
Michael Karafilis (g) (v)

Track Listing:
1. Land of Plenty
2. Honey Child
3. Outta Line
4. Ultraglide
5. Simple Man
6. Dirty Work
7. Never Was an Angel
8. What’s Good for You
9. Long Time Comin’
10. Keep Me in Mind
11. Got No Business
12. Around Again
13. Song?

Label: Eonian

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10

Stutz | 3CD Box Set: Killer, Marching Into Hell & Keep Runnin’

by Justin Gaines
- Senior Columnist –

The Stormspell label may be best known for their high quality collections of rare and previously unavailable thrash metal, but every once in a while they’ll come up with a real gem from the melodic hard rock era. They did it a few years back with their Sergeant reissues, and they’ve done it again this year with their comprehensive 3-disc box set by the band Stutz. If you’re scratching your head right now and wondering who the hell Stutz is, the band was active in the Ohio scene throughout the ‘80s, and their albums are all but impossible to find and have never been released on CD previously.

However overlooked and unknown they may be, Stutz has a sound any child of the ‘80s will find familiar. The band’s early material had a somewhat bluesy, melodic rock sound that brings to mind Y&T and maybe TKO and Rail, but as the decade progressed the band took on a harder rocking, more metallic edge. Remember when Don Dokken was supposed to take over the lead vocal spot for the Scorpions? Stutz’s 1986 album Tearin’ Up the Night sounds like the lost album those guys never got the chance to make. There are traces of Leatherwolf, King Kobra, TKO, Aldo Nova and a lot of other great ‘80s bands throughout this 3-disc set, and that instant familiarity isn’t the only great thing about Stutz’s sound. The band had a great balance between hard rocking guitars and infectious melodies, and strong vocals. Some of their early recordings are a bit too quirky and synth-driven, but for the most part this is first class melodic hard rock.

Here’s what you get in the set: Disc 1 is titled Killer, and includes the band’s 1983 album Made in USA, the 1981 Blowin’ My Mind single and a pair of bonus tracks. Disc 2 is titled Marching Into Hell, and includes the band’s 1986 full-length Tearin’ Up the Night as well as four bonus tracks. Disc 3 is titled Keep Runnin’, and is a collection of the remaining previously unreleased Stutz recordings. All told you’re looking at 43 vintage melodic rock tracks that have never before been released on CD. The songs have all been digitally remastered, and when you consider the source material it’s nothing short of amazing that they sound this good. There are also new cover illustrations for each disc, and they’re all pretty memorable. Stormspell has earned their reputation for reissues that look as good as they sound, and this is no exception.

It’s obviously a leap of faith to take a chance on a box set from a band you’ve never heard of, but if you’re a serious fan of the ‘80s melodic hard rock sound, this Stutz set is well worth the gamble. It’s like a tour of the decade’s melodic rock evolution on three discs.

Genre: Melodic Rock, Heavy Metal

Band:
Billy Dillinger (b) (v)
VZ-Rizer (d)
Jerze Razz (g)
Ajax Stone (k) (v)
Jake Banshee (v) (g)

Track Listing:

Disc 1 (Killer)
1. Starking
2. I Am Gone
3. Playing With My Heart
4. Baby Baby I Do
5. Think Pink
6. Somehow I Knew It
7. She Keeps On Lovin’ Me
8. Killer
9. Wishin’ the Night Would Last
10. Just One Moment
11. Blowin’ My Mind
12. Let’s Do It Again
13. Champion
14. Tuned to the Night

Disc 2 (Marching Into Hell)
1. Prelude
2. Marching Into Hell
3. Prophecy
4. Searching
5. Love Struck
6. Flame In Your Heart
7. Stand Up
8. Tearing Up the Night
9. Give Me a Woman that Rocks
10. Killer
11. Make Love
12. Shot Down
13. You Know I Know
14. Playing With My Heart (1988)
15. Just One Moment (1988)

Disc 3 (Keep Runnin’)
1. Somewhere in the Night
2. Christine
3. Lies
4. That’s Enough When You Are Young
5. Shot Down (alternate version)
6. Killer (1988)
7. Bullets of Love
8. Keep Running
9. Can’t Stop Loving You
10. Danger Danger
11. Could Be Good, Could Be Bad
12. Double Shot
13. Come On Let’s Go
14. Girls Love to Be Loved
15. Heaven
16. So You Think You’re in Love

Label: Stormspell

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.5/10

Brian Hunsaker | Across the Galaxy

by Alissa Ordabai
Staff Writer –

The style of the late 80s – when instrumental guitar rock was at the peak of its popularity – to this day curiously dictates its methods to legions high-tech guitar aspirants all over the world. Seattle born and raised Brian Hunsaker is one such hopeful who on his freshly released CD channels the vibes of the time when the shred gurus of today were still at their tadpole stages.

Conventional tunes, greenhorn tone, unvarying rhythms, hurried phrasing, and standard-issue (although technically commendable) chops place Hunsaker somewhere between a hobbyist and a pro. Standouts such as “At Nebula’s End” hint at a knack for memorable tunecraft and a willingness to explore beyond the truisms, but overall the record is a peculiar throwback to a certain late Eighties instrumental guitar style where casual sentimentality, pseudo-mysticism and artifice in the disguise of profundity were de rigueur.

Most of this vibe is seeping into Hunsaker’s work from the early albums of today’s shred gods. But where the masters have since then progressed to a different level of perception and connecting the inner with the outer, this record is imitating the time when they were still struggling for independence and dealing with identity issues.

Genre: Instrumental Guitar, Melodic Rock

Track listing:
1. Into Orbit
2. Blue Angel
3. Reverie
4. The Voyage
5. Gila Monster
6. Surreal Majesty
7. Spring Break
8. At Nebula’s End
9. Across the Galaxy
10. Atlantis Rising
11. Farewell to the King

Label: Independent

Hardrock Haven rating: 5/10

Tyketto | Dig in Deep

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer –

If you’re the kind of fan of the late ‘80s and early ‘90s melodic rock scene that still follows the bands all these years later, you’re no doubt aware of the fact that the original Tyketto lineup is back together and has a new album out. Tyketto’s latest, titled Dig in Deep, is only the band’s fourth studio album, and is their first since 1995’s Shine. It’s not Shine that Tyketto has to follow-up here though. With the original lineup – Danny Vaughn, Brooke St. James, Jimi Kennedy and Michael Clayton – intact, fans are looking for an album that is worthy of 1991’s Don’t Come Easy and 1994’s Strength in Numbers, two of the best melodic rock albums that decade had to offer.

The band members haven’t exactly been sitting idle these past two decades. Vocalist Danny Vaughn in particular has maintained a successful solo career as well as his From the Inside side-project. As a result, Dig in Deep sounds like what it is, the work of seasoned veterans who are older and wiser, but no less optimistic than they were back in 1991. It’s not as instantly memorable as Don’t Come Easy was, with its dynamite hooks and radio-ready singles, but Dig in Deep definitely has the Tyketto spirit, especially in the lyrics. You hear it the most on the album’s harder rocking songs, like the dynamic opener “Faithless” and the stomping “The Fight Left in Me,” which features some blistering guitar work from St. James and could have come straight from Strength in Numbers. The rest of the album alternates between the kind of mid-tempo melodic rockers and Eagles-like slower songs you’d find on one of Danny Vaughn’s solo albums. That’s not a bad thing, given how good a songwriter Vaughn is, but at the same time songs like “Here’s Hoping It Hurts” and “Monday” don’t stand out clearly as Tyketto songs.

We’re not getting another Don’t Come Easy here, but that was probably an unreasonable expectation in the first place. What we are getting in Dig in Deep is a smooth melodic rock album with a solid rock n’ roll backbone, real heart and soul, top-notch musicianship and vocals to die for, and that’s not a bad deal at all. Dig in Deep is a welcome comeback from one of the best, and most consistently overlooked, bands in melodic rock.

Genre: Melodic Rock

Band:
Danny Vaughn (v)
Brooke St. James (g) (v)
Jimi Kennedy (b) (v)
Michael Clayton (d)

Track Listing:
1. Faithless
2. Love to Love
3. Here’s Hoping It Hurts
4. Battle Lines
5. The Fight Left in Me
6. Evaporate
7. Monday
8. Dig in Deep
9. Sound Off
10. Let This One Slide
11. This Is How We Say Goodbye

Label: Frontiers

Website: www.tyketto.de

Hardrock Haven rating: 8/10

Royal Hunt | Heart of the City (Best of 1992-1999)

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer –

Danish melodic/progressive metal band Royal Hunt celebrates their 20th anniversary this year, and what better way to do that than with an extensive, multi-disc “best of” collection that captures the highlights of the band’s career and best albums? Unfortunately, Heart of the City (Best of 1992-1999) does nothing of the sort. The idea of a compilation covering Royal Hunt’s ‘90s output is a good one. There hasn’t been anything like that since 1998’s Best, and that was only available in Japan. The problem with Heart of the City is that it’s limited to a single disc and just ten songs, and those songs appear to have been chosen by someone utterly unfamiliar with the band’s history.

With this collection, you get a pair of songs from each of Royal Hunt’s first five albums, which means that despite being far more successful and superior in just about every way, the DC Cooper-fronted albums Moving Target and Paradox get the same amount of songs as the largely unknown early albums Land of Broken Hearts and Clown in the Mirror, and even then they gloss over some key songs. No “Last Goodbye” or “1348?” No “River of Pain” or “Message to God?” That’s an instant fail right there.

A real best of Royal Hunt’s ‘90s era should ideally have two discs, but failing that the non-DC Cooper albums should have one song each…tops. Throw on “Land of Broken Hearts,” “Clown in the Mirror” and “Fear” and you’re done. After that you want 3-4 songs each from Moving Target and Paradox, plus a song or two from the live albums 1996 and Paradox – Closing the Chapter. Royal Hunt’s career in the ‘90s was defined by DC Cooper’s vocals as much as anything else, and a good “best of” set would acknowledge that.

Heart of the City just doesn’t get the job done. It’s barely acceptable as an introduction for fans unfamiliar with the band, and even then newcomers are better off with a collection like Double Live in Japan. And without any b-sides or noticeable remastering, there’s definitely nothing here for serious Royal Hunt fans to bother with.

Genre: Melodic Rock, Melodic Metal, Progressive Metal

Track Listing:
1. Running Wild
2. Kingdom Dark
3. On the Run
4. Clown in the Mirror
5. Making a Mess
6. Time
7. Tearing Down the World
8. Silent Scream
9. Fear
10. Sea of Time

Label: Scarlet

Website: www.royalhunt.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 5/10

Heat | Address the Nation

by Nikiforos Skoumas
Staff Writer –

For a fan of contemporary melodic rock-AOR it is impossible not to have heard of Heat. The Swedish six piece that took the melodic world by storm in 2009 through their participation at the Eurovision song contest at which point their self-titled debut album was made available internationally. 2010 saw the release of their second album Freedom Rock and a solid partnership with the fast-rising Edel/Ear music label which more than verified that Heat was infinitely more than a fad in melodic rock.

Presently, the established line up of guitarists Dave Dalone and Eric Rivers, bassist Jimmy Jay, key player Jona Tee and drummer Crash is joined by a new singer Erik Gronwall. Gronwall, in his mid twenties, has a history of his own in reality TV and recording; he won the Swedish Idol contest in 2009 which led to the release of two solo albums under Sony music.

From day one Heat put forward first class melodic rock songs that lacked nowhere in comparison to the latest works of the veterans and legends of the scene, so there is no sense in changing that formula on this third album Address the Nation. The album opens with the anthemic hard rock of “Breaking the Silence” which unashamedly provides an excuse for gigantic choruses; the best way to open an album, one has to admit. The next song is the single “Living on the Run” coming out of a ‘Heat formula’ which previously brought us “Stay” and “Never let go”. Then there is “Falling Down,” perhaps the album’s most intense moment (bearing in mind that the guys once again put nothing but their best on tape).

From track four “The One and Only” and onwards, Address the Nation takes a more adult oriented turn, emphasizing on instrumental harmonies and arrangements while retaining that 80s- Europe vibe. Comparisons to Swedish pioneers Europe have been tagged to Heat since their formation and in all probability will keep going on for a while, especially by taking into account that Erik comes incredibly close to the vocal tone and singing style of Joey Tempest.

Regardless of the above, fact remains that the young band has delivered another first-class melodic rock album, which is all their fan-base expects. Indeed if you have experienced their previous two albums you already know what you get with Address the Nation; simply the best in youthful melodic rock.

Genre: Melodic Rock, AOR

Line up:
Erik Grönwall – Vocals
Dave Dalone – Guitars
Eric Rivers – Guitars
Jimmy Jay – Bass
Jona Tee – Keyboards
Crash – Drums

Tracklist:
01. Breaking The Silence
02. Living On The Run
03. Falling Down
04. The One And Only
05. Better Off Alone
06. In And Out Of Trouble
07. Need Her
08. Heartbreaker
09. It’s All About Tonight
10. Downtown

Web: http://www.heatsweden.com/

Label: Gain Records

Hardrockhaven rating: 9/10

Axel Rudi Pell | Circle of the Oath

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer –

German guitar wizard Axel Rudi Pell is back, right on schedule, with a new studio album, titled Circle of the Oath. This is Pell’s fourteenth studio album (excluding the Ballads series and the Diamonds Unlocked cover album), and his eighth with Hardline vocalist Johnny Gioeli and journeyman drummer Mike Terrana on board.

Axel Rudi Pell is nothing if not dependable, and in addition to knocking out a new album every two years fans can always count on each new album sounding almost exactly like the albums that came before it. The formula goes something like this: start with a short instrumental introductory track (for Circle of the Oath it’s “The Guillotine Suite”), then blaze right through a couple of high octane hard rockers (“Ghost in the Black,” “Run With the Wind” and “Before I Die”). After that it’s time for a sweeping epic that clocks in somewhere around the ten minute mark (see the title track). Then do it all over again, with a couple more rockers and at least one ballad, before closing things out with another epic (“World of Confusion”). Another brief instrumental is optional. As for lyrics, just throw everything Ronnie James Dio ever wrote into a hat and pull lines out at random until you have enough to fill an album.

OK, it’s possible Axel Rudi Pell puts more thought into each new release, but the honest truth is that Circle of the Oath sounds exactly like The Crest, which sounded exactly like Tales of the Crown, and so on. Now, if you love that formula then by all means pick up a copy of this album. You’ll get Pell’s dynamite guitar work, Terrana’s very steady drumming and, perhaps most notably, a powerhouse vocal performance by Gioeli. What you won’t get is anything you haven’t heard at least seven times before.

At this point what seemed so exciting on albums like Oceans of Time and The Masquerade Ball is all too familiar. It’s enjoyable enough while it’s spinning, but in the end Circle of the Oath feels like just another safe and predictable Axel Rudi Pell album.

Edition Notes: The limited edition version of Circle of the Oath comes in a digipack and features a live version of “The Temple of the King” (a Rainbow cover) as a bonus track.

Genre: Melodic Metal, Melodic Rock

Band:
Axel Rudi Pell (g)
Johnny Gioeli (v)
Volker Krawczak (b)
Mike Terrana (d)
Ferdy Doernberg (k)

Track Listing:
1. The Guillotine Suite (intro)
2. Ghost in the Black
3. Run With the Wind
4. Before I Die
5. Circle of the Oath
6. Fortunes of War
7. Bridges to Nowhere
8. Lived Our Lives Before
9. Hold on to Your Dreams
10. World of Confusion (The Masquerade Ball Part II)

Label: SPV Records

Website: http://www.axel-rudi-pell.de

Hardrock Haven rating: 7/10

Various Artists | Tribunal Records 100 – Cover to Cover

by Justin Gaines
Staff Writer –

Home to a diverse lineup of artists from melodic rockers Line of Fire to thrashers Blatant Disarray to modern metal bands Vanisher and Age of Ruin to metalcore and hardcore bands like Killwhitneydead and Jonin, Tribunal Records has just celebrated their 100th release. To mark the occasion, the label has released a special album that reflects the diversity of their roster as well as the diversity of influences those bands represent. Tribunal 100 – Cover to Cover features 21 cover songs from bands currently (or previously) on the Tribunal label.

Diversity is the key word for this release (which is available in MP3 format only). It’s a safe bet that no other album will have a metalcore band like Wombwrecker stomping their way through Korn’s “Here to Stay” right next to a sublime cover of Queensryche’s “I Will Remember” (courtesy of Line of Fire). The whole album is like that. That anyone would cover bands like EMF and Third Eye Blind is (pardon the pun) unbelievable enough, but hearing those songs from hardcore bands like Swift and He Is Legend is surreal. It works though, as do the more traditional choices, like Blatant Disarray doing justice to Megadeth’s “Holy Wars…The Punishment Due” or Vanisher taking on Metallica’s “Of Wolf and Man.” There are even a couple of old school gems from Uncle Slam and Sargant Fury.

Line of Fire’s Queensryche cover is an obvious standout of Tribunal 100 – Cover to Cover, but other highlights are Jonin’s fierce version of Faith No More’s “Caffeine” and instrumental progressive metal band Canvas Solaris’s take on Coroner’s “Arc-Lite.”

This is just a fun collection of unexpected cover songs that are executed very very well. Whatever your tastes (assuming you’re a fan of metal), chances are there’s something on Tribunal 100 – Cover to Cover for you. If nothing else, you’re in for some surprises with this one. Oh, and how cool is that cover artwork?

Genre: Metal, Hardcore, Melodic Rock

Track Listing:
1. The Feds: Barracuda (Heart)
2. Blatant Disarray: Holy Wars…The Punishment Due (Megadeth)
3. Aria: Clocks (Coldplay)
4. Vanisher: Of Wolf and Man (Metallica)
5. Age of Ruin: Buried Dreams (Carcass)
6. A Secret Death: Welcome to the Machine (Pink Floyd)
7. Killwhitneydead: Sacrifice (Inside Out)
8. Slowmotion Apocalypse: The Razor’s Edge (AC/DC)
9. Line of Fire: I Will Remember (Queensryche)
10. Wombwrecker: Here to Stay (Korn)
11. Jonin: Caffeine (Faith No More)
12. He is Legend: Wounded (Third Eye Blind)
13. Sargant Fury: Maniac (Michael Sembello)
14. Century: Kiss From a Rose (Seal)
15. Canvas Solaris: Arc-Lite (Coroner)
16. Uncle Slam: Dazed & Confused (Led Zeppelin)
17. Enemy is Us: Stockholm Syndrome (Muse)
18. Swift: Unbelievable (EMF)
19. Vanisher: Superbeast (Rob Zombie)
20. Slowmotion Apocalypse: Be Quick or Be Dead (Iron Maiden)
21. Killwhitneydead & Jonin: Vote With a Bullet (Corrosion of Conformity)

Label: Tribunal Records

Website: www.tribunalrecords.com

Hardrock Haven rating: 8.75/10

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