Andromeda Relix/Maracash Records [Release date 17.05.26] www.elektradrive.com

Any album that has a wildcat shredding guitar on the cover has my vote. My interest in Elektradrive goes a bit deeper than cat worship though. In 2009 we reviewed the band’s last studio outing ‘Living 4′ commenting “This is a class act and a simply wonderful sounding album that inspires, both on a musical and on an emotional level.” We produced an album trail and subsequently featured them in our ‘Albums that time forgot’ series.

The band have more recently consolidated reissues of the earlier material (that goes back to 1986) whilst celebrating their 40th anniversary with a double live album, recorded 2023/2024.

As you would expect the live shows showcased a broad sweep of their repertoire over four decades and the album emphasises how the band’s sound matured over the same period. It’s not disrespectful to say that many of these tunes could have provided background to some of those late-eighties cop movies.

Openers ‘Secret Of The Holy Grave’ and ‘Lord Of The Rings’ is fairly rudimentary hard rock inspired by Michael Schenker and UFO with the latter occasionally evoking early Magnum. Both appear on the band’s 1986 debut ‘…Over The Space’ together with ‘Time Machine’.

Eugenio Manassero’s synth keys provide retro lift to ‘The Riot Of The Young Guns’ from 1993′s ‘Big City’ and first single B-side ‘Brainstorm’ features Simone Falovo’s typically engaging guitar work.

Falovo, Alex Moro (drums) and vocalist Elio Maugeri remain from the original band but by the second album (‘Due’, 1989) the current line-up was in place, with Manassero and Stefano Turolla (bass). (Although the keyboard player was missing on ‘Living 4′).

Amongst the highlights ‘Lucille’ (Big City, 1993) could almost be the band’s ‘Carrie’ (Europe) with an always powerful vocal from Maugeri. ‘Still Remember’, from that same album, is also impressive with Falovo allowed his full head of steam.

On Disc 2, two tracks are included originally bonuses on the Big City reissue in 2012, ‘Fly High (Hero)’ and ‘Snake 92′ whilst rallying with several key pieces from ‘Due’, their 1989 album that garnered plaudits from the UK hard rock press.

I expected the tracks from ‘Living 4′ to move things up a notch with ‘Dirty War Of Bloody Angels’ ‘Evil Empire’ and ‘Pain’ all outstanding. In fact the band could have played the whole of that album for a truly wider audience appeal (maybe for the 20th anniversary in 2029?!).

In truth most of this will appeal to hardcore fans who have followed the band since the 1980s/early 1990s and will no doubt hit the mark in their homeland. However it should make others investigate the earlier albums which stand unique in Italian rock music history, and more than ever I have to say to mainman Simone “where’s the new album?” We are waiting! ****

Review by David Randall

Albums that time forgot (Living 4, 2009)

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David Randall presents a weekly show on Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Sundays at 22:00 GMT, repeated on Mondays and Fridays), when he invites listeners to ‘Assume The Position’. The show signposts forthcoming gigs and tours and latest additions at getreadytorock.com. First broadcast 21 June 2026.

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Power Plays w/c 6 July 2026

VELVET RUSH Nature Of The Beast (Frontiers)
BEN POOLE No Second Chances (indie)
THE DEAD REDS Empire (Regni Records)
THE WLDLFE No Sleep (Riser House Records)
JANE AND THE KILLER QUEENS Body Horror (indie)
ESCAPE THE HIVE Around The Sun (Deko Entertainment)
ELYSION Guardian Angel (Massacre Records)

Featured Albums w/c 6 July 2026

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2025 (Singer Songwriter)

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