Tag Archives: melodic hard rock

Album review: BLOODY HEELS – Rotten Romance

BLOODY-HEELS-rotten-romance-COVER

Frontiers [release date 10.06.22] Sounding heavier and harder than on their previous albums, it’s clear that Bloody Heels have realised that the confines of a genre only exist for those musicians who lack wit and imagination. There are few better … Continue reading

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Album review: LAZARUS DREAM – Lifeline

LAZARUS DREAM - Lifeline

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 17.06.22] Second album from Lazarus Dream, which was put together by vocalist Carsten “Lizard” Shulz (Evidence One, Domain, Devoid) and guitarist/multi-instrumentalist Markus Pfeffer (Scarlett, Winterland). Drummer Markus Kullmann (Sinner, Glenn Hughes), percussionist Thomas Rieder, … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Day Out In Nowhere

graham bonnet band day out

Frontiers Music [Release date 13.05.22] Bonnet’s back catalogue gets frequent outings via the world’s ever popular reissue/ remaster labels. So it’s good to hear some new material from him and this “elegant, late career outfit”, The Graham Bonnet Band. He’s … Continue reading

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Album review: BLACK SWAN – Generation Mind

blackswan generation

Frontiers [Release date 08.04.22] Black Swan follow up 2020′s Shake The World with the much more confident, cohesive, Generation Mind. Robin McAuley, Reb Beach, Matt Starr and Jeff Pilson form a formidable collective. Each transforming his own success and experience … Continue reading

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Quick plays: PAUL TASKER, BLACK LAKES, D’ERCOLE

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada

PAUL TASKER Tierra Quemada Yellowroom Records [Release date 01.04.22] Paul Tasker is now releasing his second instrumental album, best known for being co-songwriter with Doghouse Roses and a previous member of the Willard Grant Conspiracy. The album’s title translates to … Continue reading

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Album review: BANGALORE CHOIR – All Or Nothing, The Complete Studio Albums (3 CD Set)

bangalore boxset

Global Rock [Release date: 11.03.22] This 3 disc set from Bangalore Choir is outstandingly well compiled. It’s the first release from Store For Music’s new imprint, Global Rock. As well as the band’s career albums, On Target (1992), Cadence (2010) … Continue reading

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Album review: PRAYING MANTIS – Katharsis

PRAYING-MANTIS-katharsis-COVER_600x600

Frontiers [Release date: 28.02.22] Only occasionally since their debut have Praying Mantis registered a decent sized blip on the radar of rock music in the UK. It was in Japan – where NWOBHM labelling was less meaningful – that the … Continue reading

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Album review: GRAHAM BONNET – The Historic Collection (2 CDs)

graham bonnet historic

Store For Music [Release date 21.01.22] Graham Bonnet needs little or no introduction. His 5 decade back catalogue is a rich and constant source of reissues and expanded versions. This double CD package sees his 1991 album, Here Comes The … Continue reading

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Album review: DIRTY WHITE BOY – Bad Reputation (Remaster with bonus track)

dirty white boy

Bad Reputation Records [Released 16.12.21] Dirty White Boy originally released Bad Reputation in 1990. Melodic hard rock had entered the new decade unconvincingly, and was rapidly evolving into a bloated, corporate rock cliché. Bad Reputation was a significant exception. The … Continue reading

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Album review: ENUFF Z’NUFF – Hardrock Nite

EZN Nite

Frontiers [Release date: 12.11.21] Enuff Z’Nuff do an album of Fab Four covers, at last. We used to think it was a given, but it never happened. There’s distance now, and with that comes perspective. Arguably, only Wilson Pickett (Hey … Continue reading

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Gig review: PRAYING MANTIS – Arlington Arts Centre, Snelsmore, 7 October 2021

pm4

A mere 581 days since I last attended an indoor concert – Jon Boden in Didcot back in March 2020. Since then live music as we know has been decimated with the fall out from the pandemic, however, you can’t … Continue reading

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Album review: FICTION SYXX – Ghost Of My Fathers Past

FICTION SYXX – Ghost Of My Fathers Past

MR Records [Release date 04.08.21 digital/28.09.21 physical] Here we have the third album from Fiction Syxx who have been pretty consistent in releasing a new album every couple of years since they started back in 2017. The band consists of … Continue reading

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Album review: M.ILL.ION – Back On Track

M.ILL.ION - Back On Track

AOR Heaven [Release date 10.09.21] Four original M.ILL.ION members reunited in the autumn of 2020 – Hans Dalzon (vocals), CT Rohdell (guitar), Marcus Berglund (keyboards) and B.J Laneby (bass) – and they were joined by new recruits Henrik Andersson (lead … Continue reading

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Album review: VANDENBERG – The Complete Atco Recordings 1982-2004 (4 CD Boxset w/bonus tracks)

vandenberg_atcorecor_Z7l9l

Cherry Red [release date 27.08.21] Vandenberg (1982) Heading For A Storm (1983) Alibi (1985) Demos and Live (2004) Emerging unbloodied and unbowed from the golden age of AOR, Vandenberg’s 3 albums (now remastered) embody all that was good and all … Continue reading

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Album review: SPEKTRA – Overload

Spektra_600x600

Frontiers [Release date 06.08.21] Still mining Brazil’s rich seam of hard rock heroes, Frontiers latest South American hopefuls are Spektra, a melodic rock band built around the talents of the vocalist/ guitarist with no name, BJ. And like his countryman, … Continue reading

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Album review: JAGGED EDGE – Fuel For Your Soul / Trouble (Remasters w/bonus tracks)

JAGGED EDGE - Fuel For Your Soul / Trouble (Remasters w/bonus tracks)

Bad Reputation [Release date 30.07.21] A cracking little package: 2 CDs remastered and laden with bonus material, from Eighties’ hard rock band, Jagged Edge, brought to us by French label, Bad Reputation. The band, formed by guitarist Myke Gray in … Continue reading

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Album review: HARDLINE – Heart, Mind and Soul

HARDLINE – Heart, Mind and Soul

Frontiers [Release date 09.07.21] Album number seven from melodic hard rockers Hardline who still feature sole remaining original member vocalist Johnny Gioeli. The rest of Hardline is guitarist Mario Percudani, bassist Anna Portalupi, drummer Marco Di Salvia and on keyboards, … Continue reading

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Album review: DOOGIE WHITE – As Yet Untitled (2 CD remaster)

doogie white as yet

Pete Feenstra chatted to Doogie White for Get Ready to ROCK! Radio.  First broadcast 8 August 2021. The Store For Music [Release date 07.06.21] In 2011, ubiquitous gun-for-hire Doogie (Rainbow/Malmsteen/Schenker) White released a cracking little solo album called As Yet … Continue reading

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Album review: THE BULLETBOYS – The Warner Albums 1988-93 (3 CDs)

bulletboys warner

Cherry Red Records [release date 18.06.21] No doubt about it, The Bulletboys started out as contenders. This package of CD remasters, comprising the band’s first 3 albums, The Bullet Boys, Freakshow and Za-Za, covers the most important chapters of the … Continue reading

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Album review: THE END MACHINE – Phase 2

end-machine-cover

Frontiers Music [Release date 09.03.21] This second The End Machine album, Phase 2, does what it would’ve said if it had been in a tin. And it says it emphatically, loudly, subtly in places and outright aggressively in others. It’s … Continue reading

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Album review: JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 – Running Games

JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 – Running Games

Frontiers [Release date 12.02.21] Joel Hoekstra, best known as the current guitarist for Whitesnake and Trans-Siberian Orchestra (and previously as a member of Night Ranger and the Broadway show Rock of Ages), returns with album number two from his solo … Continue reading

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Album review: BONFIRE – Roots

bonfire roots400

AFM Records [Release date 26.02.21] Bonfire‘s continued popularity and success confounds critics, of the genre at least, if not the band. And you could hardly describe each new album as a reinvention. They have constantly returned to their home territory … Continue reading

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Album review : KREEK – Kreek

KREEK - Kreek

Frontiers [Release date 12.02.21] Debut album from Kreek, a new band built around ex Bigfoot vocalist, Antony Ellis. It’s produced by Night By Night & Passion vocalist/guitarist, Dan Rosall. It’s surprising that this one got past Frontiers generally on-the-ball quality … Continue reading

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Album review : GEORGE LYNCH & JEFF PILSON – Heavy Hitters

GEORGE LYNCH & JEFF PILSON - Heavy Hitters

Cleopatra Records [Release date 15.01.21] Two of Dokken’s original members who left and developed into marquee names themselves are guitarist, George Lynch and bass player/vocalist, Jeff Pilson. The prediction that all rock bands will eventually do a covers’ album might … Continue reading

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Album review: JOHN DIVA & THE ROCKETS OF LOVE – American Amadeus

JOHN DIVA & THE LOVE ROCKETS – American Amadeus

      SPV/Steamhammer [Release date 15.01.21] John Diva & the Rockets of Love’s 2019 debut album ‘Mama Said Rock Is Dead’ charted in the top 30 of the German album chart and they had successful tours around Europe. Now … Continue reading

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