Frontiers [Release date : 13.12.24]

Prior to his Rock Opera project, Nostradamus (2001), classically trained Bulgarian multi-instrumentalist, Nikolo Kotzev had founded Brazen Abbot.

The band’s second and third releases, Eye Of The Storm (1996) and Bad Religion (1997), have now been remastered by Frontiers Music, in readiness for a December reissue.

Protracted contractual negotiations led to three vocalists (rather then just one) contributing to both albums. Goran Edman, Joe Lynn Turner and Thomas Vikstrom.

Europe’s rhythm section, Mic Michaeli, John Leven and Ian Haugland was also recruited.
An EU Premier League line up, no question.

Kotzev is on record as confirming that he was so pleased with the result, that he kept this format for subsequent albums.

These musicians – proven, successful artists – easily stepped up and into Kotzev’s high concept rock music.

Thus JLT handles ‘Twist Of Fate’, a song cut cleanly from Deep Purple cloth, and ‘Line Of Fire’, matching the dramatic events in the lyrics with the music.

The swirling studio texture and spiritual lyrics of ‘Everything’s Gonna Be Alright’ are a perfect fit for Edman’s soulful baritone.

And then he gets the funk out on ‘Common People’, clearly enjoying every second.

The hooky, more mainstream rock pieces, ‘Highway Cindy’ and ‘Wake Up Everybody’ are made to sit up and beg by Vikstrom. Another perfect fit.

With the same Premier League line up, Bad Religion was released a year later (1997).

And yet another eleven 24 carat hard rock songs from Kotzev.

Opener ‘The Whole World Is Crazy’ is the trailer track for the album, available to watch on YT.

By now Kotzev’s style will be familiar. Classically orchestrated opening succeeded by brittle hard rock guitars, underlined by a solid percussive thump and emotive vocals (JLT on this one).

It’s a formula that’s hard to break, and anyway, who would want to?

It works on the opener, and equally (if not better) on the hi-speed bpms of ‘Day Of The Eagle’, with Edman reaching for another octave. We’re guessing this one was earmarked for Glenn Hughes, who couldn’t make the gig.

Edman signs off the album with the enigmatic ‘The Empire Of The Sun’. A song within a song, a drama within a drama. A powerful piece of well crafted hard rock. It leaves us hanging.

A magnificently apposite finishing touch to two albums of classically minded hard rock. ****1/2

Review by Brian McGowan

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Power Plays w/c 10 March 2025

THE SOUL REVIVAL Outlaw (indie)
WHEN RIVERS MEET Addicted To Love (indie)
ISABELLA STORM Satan’s Valentine (indie)
KEYSTONE Slow Down Honey (indie)
THE BIRTHDAY MASSACRE Sleep Tonight (Metropolis Records)
SAWMOON Madness (indie)

Featured Albums w/c 10 March 2025

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003 – 2024 (Singer Songwriter)

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