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Tag Archives: melodic rock
Album review: AUTUMN’S CHILD – Starflower

Pride & Joy Music [Release date 20.01.23] Autumn’s Child return with their fourth album ‘Starflower’, the second one released by Pride & Joy Music. The band still features Michael Erlandsson on vocals, keyboards & guitars, Pontus Åkesson on lead guitar, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Autumn's Dream, hard rock, melodic rock, Michael Erlandsson, Queen, review, Starflower, Styx, theatrical
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Gig review: THE NEW ROSES – Camden Underworld, London, 1 December 2022

It’s been a case of making up for lost time for German rockers The New Roses. I’d been highly impressed by their headline London show at this same venue in late 2018 and the following year’s ‘Nothing But Wild’ was … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 1 December 2022, Camden Underworld, Dizzy Daniels, gig, London, melodic rock, the New Roses, Timmy Rough
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Single reviews: LITTLE LORE, BROTHER FIRETRIBE, KING CUJO

LITTLE LORE Birds ‘Birds’ is the latest single from Little Lore, the alter-ego of London-based Americana singer-storyteller Tricia Duffy. She is joined on this song by Oli Deakin who adds the instrumental backing. Little Lore: “I wrote ‘Birds’ at a friend’s … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews
Tagged alt rock, Brother Firetribe, folk, King Cujo, Little Lore, melodic rock, review, rock, singer songwriter, singles
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Gig review: DANNY VAUGHN – The Grace, London, 4 December 2022

Danny Vaughn was one of those troubadours who made lockdown life more bearable for rock fans with his ‘Vaughnsday’ on line acoustic performances from his living room. The pandemic had interrupted his usual busy schedule, whether solo, with Tyketto or … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 4 December 2022, acoustic, Danny Vaughn, gig, London, melodic rock, The Grace, Tyketto
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Album review : NEVENA – Nevena

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] After contributing to the Big Deal album earlier this year, with several other female singers, Nevena strikes out now as a solo performer. Her debut walks a high wire between modern pop and melodic rock, as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Big Deal, Contemporary pop, country rock, Frontiers, Heart, melodic rock, Mike Palace, Pat Benatar, review, Serbia
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Album review: PERFECT PLAN- Brace for Impact

Frontiers Records (release date 14.10.22) Of the multitude of Scandinavian melodic rock bands to emerge in recent years, Perfect Plan have been one of the best. Indeed their second album ‘Time for a Miracle’ was my album of 2020. The … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Perfect Plan
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News: Albums of the Month (October – December 2022)

DYNAZTY Final Advent (AFM Records) What it does is incrementally fine tune the sound that’s now established as their MO. Their epic, keyboard driven symphonic/melodic metal just bursts with energy and invention, pushing them streets ahead of every other band … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Albums of the Month, ALL POSTS
Tagged albums, ALTER BRIDGE, Austin Gold, classic rock, December 2022, Dynazty, Generation Radio, Gun, hard rock, heavy rock, melodic rock, November 2022, October 2022, Progressive Rock, review, Threshold
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Album review: TOMMY DECARLO – Dancing In The Moonlight

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] Tommy DeCarlo, the singer who joined Boston in 2007, after being discovered on MySpace by Tom Scholz, is now on his second “solo” album for Frontiers. The current iteration of his studio band includes, on guitar, … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alessandro Delvecchio, Black Crowes, Bon Jovi, Boston, Dancing In The Moonlight, David Julien, Denis DeYoung, George Clinton, GooGoo Dolls, Marti Jepsen Andersen, melodic rock, review, Styx, Tom Scholz, Tommy Decarlo, Tommy Shaw
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Album review: ROB MORATTI – Epical

Frontiers [Release date: 09.12.22] Quite a line up Rob Moratti’s put together here. Tony (Blue Murder) Franklin, Joel (Whitesnake) Hoekstra, Pete (James Christian/ Robin McAuley) Alpenborg, Fredrik (Bloodbound) Bergh, with Steve (Tyketto/ Journey) Augeri on backing vocals. Moratti has been … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alias, AOR, Bloodbound, Blue Murder, Brother Firetribe, Eclipse, Fredrik Bergh, James Christian, Joel Hoekstra, melodic rock, Pete Alpenborg, review, Robin McAuley, Starship, Steve Augeri, Steve Perry, Survivor, Tony Franlin, Tyketto, Whitesnake, Work Of Art
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Album review: LANDFALL – Elevate

Frontiers [Release date 9.12.22] Much more assured second album from Landfall, the Brazilian band led by Eric Martin soundalike, Gui Oliver. And boy does it sound good, graced with melodic, tightly constructed songs, great playing, a lean, taut production, no … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Blue Tears, Elevate, Eric Martin, Frontiers, Gui Oliver, Journey, Landfall, Mayank, melodic rock, Mr Big, review
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Quick plays: STAR CIRCUS, THE ROADS

STAR CIRCUS Seperate Sides Diamond Formation Music [Release date 02.12.22] Star Circus is the brainchild of Dave Winkler (Bordello Rose, Renegade Playboys, Trophies of Man). After a detour playing guitar and touring as a hired gun for acts such as … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Quick Plays
Tagged album, Boston, Gary Pihl, hard rock, melodic rock, Mick Devine, review, rock, Simple Man, Star Circus, Styx, the Roads
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Album review : AUTOGRAPH – Beyond

Frontiers Records [Release date 18.11.22] We all want to love this album because it’s Autograph. Even though they’re one-hit-wonders, and even though bassman Randy Rand is/was the only remaining original member. (Rand took part in the recording sessions, but died … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Autograph, Beyond, Def Leppard, eighties, Jimi Bell, Marc Wieland, melodic rock, Our Lady Peace, Randy Rand, review, Simon Daniels, Steve Plunkett, The Beatles
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Album review: ARC OF LIFE – Don’t Look Down

Frontiers [Release date: 18.11.22] Arc Of Life is a Progrock supergroup, arguably. In order of fame : Jon (Yes) Davison, Billy (Yes/ World Trade) Sherwood, Jay (Unruly Child) Schellen, Dave (Sound Of Contact) Kerzner and Jimmy (Air Supply/ Circa) Haun. … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged Air Supply, album, AOR, Arc Of Life, Billy Sherwood, Circa, Dave Kerzner, Don't Look Down, Frontiers, Jay Schellen, Jimmy Haun, Jon Davison, melodic rock, Mr Mister, progrock, review, Sound Of Contact, Third Matinee, Unruly Child, World Stage, Yes
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Album review: ABOUT US – About Us

Frontiers [release date: 11.11.22] It’s a pleasure to welcome a band from the Asian continent, About Us, to the world of AOR and Melodic Rock (despite the album’s Proggy cover). They are a well established, award winning band in their … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Asia, Blue Tears, Bon Jovi, Danger Danger, Dark Horse, Eclipse, India, melodic rock, review, Unruly Child, Wigelius
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Gig review: DARE – Islington Academy, London, 27 October 2022

2022 has been Dare’s most active year in some while. Spring saw the release of their first album in six years, and their most convincing in a long time, in ‘Road To Eden’ and now came an extensive autumn tour, … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged AOR, Dare, Darren Wharton, gig, Marc Roberts, melodic rock, Nigel Clutterbuck, Troy Redfern, Vinny Burns
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Gig review: CATS IN SPACE – Sub 89, Reading, 26 October 2022

2022 has seen the release of what for me is Cats in Space’s finest hour yet in their fifth studio release ‘Kickstart the Sun’. The double album fully justified their decision last year to curtail some tour dates to concentrate … Continue reading
Feature: GRTR!@20 Anniversary – Melodic Rock – Primer

Melodic Rock Editor Andy Nathan witnesses the melodic revival… When GRTR! started in late-2002 traditional melodic rock and AOR was still in something of a prolonged hangover from the years of grunge which swept away the genre, and indeed much … Continue reading
Posted in FEATURES, GRTR!@20, The Primer
Tagged anniversary, AOR, Def Leppard, Europe, Firefest, FM, Foreigner, H.E.A.T., Journey, melodic hard rock, melodic rock, primer, summary, Whitesnake
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Gig review: H.E.A.T. – Electric, Brixton, London, 18 October 2022

Since H.E.A.T’s London show was first announced in early 2020 a lot has happened. The show was postponed twice, the venue switched and Vega dropped off the bill after refusing to play second fiddle to the fast rising Mason Hill. … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Collateral, Crash, Dave Dalone, gig, H.E.A.T., Jimmy Jay, Jona Tee, Kenny Leckremo, Mason Hill, melodic rock
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Album review: RICHARD MARX – Songwriter

Shelter Records (Release date 30.09.22) Only a year after releasing his last album. ‘Limitless’, Richard Marx is back with perhaps his most ambitious work yet. The very title suggests that despite a solo career which made him one of the … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, melodic rock, review, Richard Marx, singer songwriter, songwriter
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Album review: TURKISH DELIGHT – Volume 1

Escape Music [Release date 21.10.22] Turkish Delight celebrates the joy that Escape Music co-owner Khalil Turk has for the kind of music he loves so much, namely AOR and melodic rock. This selection was personally chosen by Khalil, with material … Continue reading
Album review: TRAGIK – Cry For Love

Rock Company Records [Release date 14.10.22] Album number eleven I believe by Tragik who feature Phil Vincent (vocals, bass, keys), Dirk Phillips (drums), and Damian D’Ercole (guitars). Once again Jacob Hansen has mastered the album. ‘Thrill Of It All’ and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Cry For Love, Damian D'Ercole, hard rock, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, Tragik
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Album review: THE MOON CITY MASTERS – The Famous Moon City Masters

Facebook [Release date 04.11.22] The Moon City Masters, aka brothers Jordan and Talor Steinberg, unleash their 70s infused debut album upon us. Despite rivalling Nelson in the hair product stakes, the Moon City Masters have their musical roots firmly in the 70s, … Continue reading





