Tag Archives: hair metal

Album review: FATAL VISION – Three Times Lucky

FATAL VISION - Three Times Lucky

Art of Melody  [Release date 22.11.24] Fatal Vision originated in Ottawa, Canada during the late 1980s, carving out a niche in the Melodic Rock scene with influences from iconic bands like Asia, Bad English, Journey, Survivor, and Van Halen. After … Continue reading

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Gig review: WINGER – Bristol Academy, 21 May 2023

230521_winger8a

Back in 2010 I reviewed Winger at Manchester Academy and took my son the guitarist Ben Randall.  Ben is a big fan of the band but I couldn’t entice him to see their latest tour supporting Steel Panther. Whether it’s … Continue reading

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Album review: BANG TANGO – Psycho Cafe (2022 Remaster)

bang tango psycho cafe

Rock Candy Records [release date: 07.10.22] It might be exaggeration to describe Bang Tango’s music as a radically different take on Hair Metal, but it was certainly its own man. The band, Joe Leste on vocals, Kyle Stevens and founder, … Continue reading

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Album review: STREETLIGHT CIRCUS – Super Fine Sugar

STREETLIGHT CIRCUS – Super Fine Sugar

Escape Music [Release date 23.09.22] To quote their bio Streetlight Circus were “Born in New York City, raised on Rock ‘n’ Roll”. They have been playing live since 2010 with two independently released full-length albums and one EP to their … Continue reading

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Album review: SKID ROW – The Atlantic Years

SKID ROW

BMG [Release date 03.12.21] American rock band Skid Row, who formed in New Jersey in 1986, found fame in the late 80s and early 90s with their brand of hard rock that included elements of glam and sleaze. Signing to … Continue reading

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Feature: Albums that time forgot…DON DOKKEN – Up From The Ashes

DON DOKKEN - Up From The Ashes

Geffen Records (1990) At the turn of the 1980′s there was a last hurrah for the genre that had sometimes been called glam metal, or more specifically hair metal.  Bolstered by albums such as Whitesnake (1987) and Winger (1988) the … Continue reading

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Album review: WHITE LION – All You Need Is Rock’n'Roll – The Complete Albums 1985-91

WHITE LION - All You Need Is Rock'n'Roll - The Complete Albums 1985-91

Cherry Red [Release date 28.08.20] 5-CD set The Cherry Red label has established a reputation for moving across genres in resurrecting high quality material, suitable for repackaging and reissuing. With this one, they’ve recognised one of the classiest, if short … Continue reading

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Album review: RATT – The Atlantic Years 1984-1990

RATT - The Atlantic Years 1984-1990

Cherry Red Records [Release date 27.02.20] The Atlantic Years were indeed Ratt’s best years. This boxset is a compelling, 5 CD picture of a Glam Rock band constantly on the rise, before the breakup and the fall. There’s a dozen … Continue reading

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Album review: MOTLEY CRUE – Dr Feelgood

MOTLEY CRUE - Dr Feelgood

(30th Anniversary Edition) Motley Records/Eleven Seven Music [Release date 29.11.19] “Dr. Feelgood” was originally released in 1989, the fifth studio album from Motley Crue, it is also their bestselling to date having sold over six million copies (and who knows … Continue reading

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Album review: KEEL – Keel & The Final Frontier

KEEL - The Final Frontier

Rock Candy Records [Release date 29.11.19] ‘The Final Frontier’ – Discovered, mentored and produced by Gene (Kiss) Simmons, Ron Keel’s hard rock band were of and for their times. On “The Final Frontier” the band’s 3rd album (1985), they make … Continue reading

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Album review: ROXY BLUE – Roxy Blue

ROXY BLUE - Roxy Blue

Frontiers [Release date 09.08.19] Coming a mere 25 years since their debut album (“Want Some”), Roxy Blue are back with a brand new album, very good it is too, and with the exception of guitarist Jeffrey Wade Caughron, the band … Continue reading

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Album review: CRAZY LIXX – Forever Wild

CRAZY LIXX - Forever Wild

Frontiers [Release date 17.05.19] “Forever Wild” is the sixth studio album from Swedish band Crazy Lixx, and could very well be their best to date. This is good, solid melodic rock n’ roll that is full of those ‘80’s style … Continue reading

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Quick plays: NITRATE, HOWARD JONES

NITRATE - Open Wide

NITRATE Open Wide AOR Heaven [Release date 21.06.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s enjoyable debut album ‘Real World’, Nitrate are back with album number two. The core duo of Nick Hogg (bass, guitars, keyboards) and Midnite City’s Rob … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MATT MITCHELL & THE COLD HEARTS, A NEW REVENGE, RAIN OR SHINE

MATT MITCHELL & THE COLD HEARTS Independent [Release date 19.04.19] Matt Mitchell has fronted AOR band Pride, the more metal flavoured Furyon and then Colour Of Noise, who featured former Little Angels guitarist Bruce John Dickinson. Despite a strong album … Continue reading

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Album review: JETBOY – Born To Fly

JETBOY - Born To Fly

Frontiers [Release date 25.01.19] With their first full album of new material since 1990, “Born To Fly” is a welcome return for Jetboy. The band includes original members Micky Finn on vocals alongside guitarists, and founder members, Fernie Rod and … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN DIVA & THE ROCKETS OF LOVE – Mama Said Rock Is Dead

SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 08.02.19] Bouncy anthemic keyboards, smooth melodic riffs and catchy sing-along choruses John Diva & The Rockets of Love celebrate and take their cues from that mid-80s era of rock when the likes of Van Halen, Whitesnake (the … Continue reading

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Album review: MIDNITE CITY – There Goes The Neighbourhood

MIDNITE CITY - There Goes The Neighbourhood

AOR Heaven [Release date 19.10.18] Midnite City’s debut album released last year picked up favourable reviews with the band’s sound harking back to the 80′s hair metal of Poison, Danger Danger, Trixter et al. Album number two ‘There Goes The … Continue reading

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Album review: CINDERELLA – The Mercury Years

CINDERELLA - The Mercury Years

Caroline Records [Release date 28.09.18] US rock band Cinderella formed in the early 80s, and had some notable success in the late 80s and early 90s. And a great live band they were too. They split in the mid 90s, … Continue reading

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Album review: BULLETBOYS – From Out Of The Skies

BULLETBOYS - From Out Of The Skies

Frontiers [Release date 23.03.18] I’ll be honest, I was never a huge fan of the Bulletboys , sure they were on my radar but that was about as far as it got. So when I saw that long term fans … Continue reading

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Quick plays: THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND, QUIET RIOT, WORLD TRADE

THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND What If

THE JERRY DOUGLAS BAND What If Rounder Records [Release date 18.08.17] Jerry Douglas has played and appeared on over 1,600 albums, from artists such as Ray Charles, Paul Simon and Eric Clapton, plus he has been a member of Alison … Continue reading

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Album review: WARRANT – Louder, Harder, Faster

WARRANT - Louder, Harder, Faster

Frontiers [Release date 12.05.17] Now, there is no getting away from the fact that the late Jani Lane was one hell of a songwriter and left behind some stand out songs from the Sunset Strip era.  However, Warrant these days … Continue reading

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Album review: CRAZY LIXX – s/t

Crazy Lixx

Frontiers [Release date 10.11.14] www.frontiers.it With a name that hints at glam or sleaze rock, Sweden’s Crazy Lixx are much more than that and deliver decent, polished melodic rock on fourth album “Crazy Lixx”. The album builds upon the path … Continue reading

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Quick plays: GASOLINE STARS, DUST BOWL JOKIES, THOMAS ZWIJSEN, DR.JOHN

GASOLINE STARS – Good Looks, Bad Behaviour

GASOLINE STARS – Good Looks, Bad Behaviour Self Release Good Looks, Bad Behaviour is the debut full length album from Gasoline Stars who formed in 2012 in Sweden. Gasoline Stars are a fivesome although they have split with the drummer … Continue reading

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Album review: KIX – Rock Your Face Off

Kix - Rock Your Face Off

earMUSIC/Loud & Proud [Released 18.08.14] At last, a band whose main success was in the late ‘80’s has made a new album that sounds like it was actually recorded in 1991 and not “we’ve grown/we’ve updated our sound/ we were … Continue reading

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EP review: BEGGARZ FIXX – Rouse The Rabble

BEGGARZ FIXX – Rouse The Rabble

Self Release  [Release date –08.09.14] Hmm, not too sure where to go with this EP. On the one hand the music is good, although nothing to write home about, think any second rate LA band from the late 80’s hair … Continue reading

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