Tag Archives: AOR

News: BIG BIG TRAIN, DIAMOND DOGS, NICK MASON (January 2022)

Dare - GIANTS OF ROCK – Butlins, Minehead, 26 January 2019

Alestorm begin work on their next album, ‘Seventh Rum Of A Seventh Rum’, which will be released on Napalm Records later this year. Arch Enemy will release their latest studio album, ‘Deceivers’, via Century Media Records on July 29. Big … Continue reading

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Album review: AT THE MOVIES – The Soundtrack of Your Life Vol. 1 & 2

AT THE MOVIES – The Soundtrack of Your Life Vol. 1

Atomic Fire Records [Release date 07.01.22] Pretty Maids Chris Laney has been watching lots of movies during the pandemic and he noticed how great the soundtracks often were. So, At The Movies was born when he enlisted drummer Allan Sørensen … Continue reading

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Album review : ZELBO – In My Dreams

ZELBO - In My Dreams

Frontiers [Release date 10.12.21] Melodic Rock/AOR band, Zelbo is named for keyboard player and founding member, Dag Selboskar. This relatively unknown Norwegian musician in fact has quite a pedigree. He debuted with the legendary Da Vinci. His DV bandmate, Bjorn … Continue reading

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Album review: BITE THE BULLET – End of the Line

BITE THE BULLET - End of the Line

Escape Music [Release date 22.01.22] Bite the Bullet trace their origins back to 1986 and still feature the original duo of Mick Benton (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and Graham Cowling (Drums). They released a strong comeback album, ‘Black and White’, … Continue reading

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Album review: ORLEANS – New Star Shining

ORLEANS - New Star Shining

Sunset Blvd Records [Release date 22.10.21] The 2021 Christmas offering from Orleans is something of a welcome surprise.  The band have existed in some shape or form since their glory days in the late 1970s on the Asylum label, although … Continue reading

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Quick plays: TAYLOR YOUNG BAND, AUTUMN’S CHILD

AUTUMN'S CHILD - Zenith

TAYLOR YOUNG BAND Mercury Transit Handrawn Records [Release date 08.10.21] Taylor Young drummed for the likes of The O’s, Young Heart Attack and Polyphonic Spree. Now he takes on the role of band leader and is joined by guitarist, vocalist … Continue reading

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Album review: JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE – Tigress – Women Who Rock the World

JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE- Tigress- Women Who Rock the World

Frontiers Records (Release date 05.11.21) Jim Peterik’s World Stage project, whether live or in the studio, is characterised by the Survivor founder using the widest array of musical chums to sing his songs. ‘Tigress’ (what is it with his obsession … Continue reading

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Album review: GROUNDBREAKER – Soul to Soul

GROUNDBREAKER- Soul to Soul

Frontiers Records (Release date 12.11.21) Groundbreaker’s debut album was a Frontiers Records project to reunite Steve Overland with the pure AOR sound of early FM. That was a collaboration with Work of Art’s Robert Sall, but  the latter is not … Continue reading

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Album review: ASIA – The Official Live Bootlegs (10 CD Boxset)

asia bootlegs 2

BMG UK [release date 26/11/21] Asia : In 1997, Paul Stump wrote in “A History Of Progressive Rock” that the band’s “links with the genre were as tenuous as George Formby’s links with Mozart”. It is a memorable quote. And … Continue reading

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Upcoming: UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2021)

Carl Palmer's ELP Legacy - HRH Prog, November 2017

Compiled by Jason Ritchie All dates are subject to the coronavirus pandemic restrictions.   Please check artist and venue websites for latest information. Your tour not listed? Contact us! UK Festivals 2021 2022 Tour Dates (UK & Ireland) 2021 Tour Dates … Continue reading

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Album review: MEMORIA AVENUE – Memoria Avenue

MEMORIA AVENUE - Memoria Avenue

Frontiers [Release date 05.11.21] Debut album from Memoria Avenue, a collaboration between talented writer/ guitarist/ Producer, Tor Talle, and up and coming vocalist, and fellow Norwegian, Jan Le Brandt. A polished production and neatly tailored arrangements define the early part … Continue reading

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Album review: TONY MITCHELL – Hot Endless Summer Nights

TONY MITCHELL – Hot Endless Summer Nights

AOR Heaven [Release date 26.11.21] Nearly two years on, Tony Mitchell releases his third album as he goes full on 80s AOR. Tony Mitchell spent several months travelling coast to coast taking in the sights, sounds & overall American culture … Continue reading

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Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2022)

Rammstein - DOWNLOAD, 10-12 June 2016

Compiled by Jason Ritchie Please check with venue and/or relevant website(s) to confirm availability. Updated 05/10/2022 Upcoming: European, USA & World Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2023) UK & Ireland Tour Dates and Gig Listing (2022) To search quickly within … Continue reading

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Album review: FANS OF THE DARK – Fans Of The Dark

FansOfTheDark

Frontiers [Release date: 05.11.21] Fans Of The Dark are a new Melodic Rock band formed by songwriter / drummer, Freddie Allen, the driving force behind AOR legends-in-the-making, Houston. He’s brought in Alex Falk on vocals, with guitarist, Oscar Bromvall and … Continue reading

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Album review: LOVERBOY – Loverboy and Get Lucky (Remasters)

loverboy get lucky

Rock Candy Records [release date 24.09.21] Selling 6 million between them, Loverboy’s self titled debut (1980) and follow up, Get Lucky (1981), have now had the treatment from Rock Candy Records. Forty years of remastering evolution has brought us to … Continue reading

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Album review: LEVERAGE – Above The Beyond

leverage-above-the-beyond

Frontiers [Release date 15.10.21] AOR, Melodic Rock, Power Metal, Progmetal … Leverage are none of these yet they are all of these. On their 5th album now and the music gets harder to define and easier to admire. It’s perhaps … Continue reading

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Upcoming: New releases (CD/DVD) October 2021 – December 2021

TONY MITCHELL – Hot Endless Summer Nights

Compiled by Jason Ritchie January-March 2021 April-June 2021 July-September 2021 January-June 2022 October 1st ASKING ALEXANDRIA ‘See What’s On The Inside’ Better Noise Music RONNIE ATKINS (PRETTY MAIDS) ’4 More Shots’ (EP) Frontiers BLACK SABBATH ‘Technical Ecstasy’ (4CD, 5LP) BMG … Continue reading

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Feature: Albums that time forgot…THE STORM (Gregg Rolie, Ross Valory, Steve Smith)

The Storm - 1991

Interscope/Atlantic 1991 The Storm is very much a case of “what we did in our down time”.  With Journey on hiatus in the late eighties Neal Schon formed Bad English then Hardline (debut album Double Eclipse in 1992) whilst Journey … Continue reading

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Album review: NEWMAN – Into The Monsters’ Playground

NEWMAN- Into the Monsters' Playground

AOR Heaven (Release date 10.09.21) For a remarkable near quarter of a century Steve Newman has turned out a series of finely crafted albums. He never remotely hinted at the big time, but as compensation his name enjoys almost universal … Continue reading

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Album review: PETER H NILSSON – Sign Of Myself

PETER H NILSSON – Sign Of Myself

AOR Heaven [Release date 10.09.21] Peter H Nilsson’s debut ‘Little American Dream’ was a very enjoyable AOR/ West Coast listen and still played regularly by this reviewer. The good news is that this follow-up album sees Nilsson still teamed up … Continue reading

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Album review: THE PETAL FALLS – All These Years

THE PETAL FALLS - All These Years

[Release date 03.09.21] Just about a year ago I reviewed this band’s debut album, ‘Workin All Night, Workin All Day’ and I was literally blown away. I knew then that this band had reach and would appeal to a broader … Continue reading

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Album review: BLOOD RED SAINTS- Undisputed

BLOOD RED SAINTS- Undisputed

Frontiers Records (Release Date 06.08.21) Blood Red Saints’ fourth album sees them come full circle, not only with a return to Frontiers  Records, but to the style of their impressive debut album before exploring a more guitar dominated and modern … Continue reading

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Album review: CRUZH – Tropical Thunder

CRUZH - Tropical Thunder

Frontiers [Release date 06.08.21] Cruzh is back with a new vocalist, Alex Waghorn, in a belated follow-up to 2016’s self-titled debut. Waghorn joined Cruzh in 2019 when the band released an acoustic version of ‘Aim For The Head’. Now, Waghorn, … Continue reading

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Album review: TOBY HITCHCOCK- Changes

TOBY HITCHCOCK- Changes

Frontiers Records (Release Date 09.07.21) Less than a year after the latest Pride of Lions album and only two after his ‘Reckoning’ release, powerhouse singer Toby Hitchcock is back in fairly short order with his third solo album. After using … Continue reading

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Album review: DAVID CROSBY – For Free

DAVID CROSBY - For Free

BMG [Release date 23.07.21] David Crosby has been prolific as a recording artist, despite various health issues, and he is back with his fifth solo album since 2014. Joining Crosby on the record are Michael McDonald, Donald Fagen, Sarah Jarosz … Continue reading

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