Tag Archives: melodic rock

Album review: CRUZH – Tropical Thunder

Posted on August 14, 2021 by jason

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 →

News: VANGELIS, SLADE, GENESIS (August 2021)

Posted on August 1, 2021 by jason

JOANNE SHAW TAYLOR - O2 Ritz, Manchester, 17 March 2019

Bryan Adams has signed with BMG who will release his new album later this year. Elles Bailey has released a new single ‘Cheats & Liars’. It’s the first single from her third album ‘Shining in the Half Light’ which is due next … Continue reading →

Posted in Album News, ALL POSTS, Band Entrees & Exits, Books, Festivals & Large Events, Get Ready to ROCK! Radio, Gigs and Tour News, NEWS, PledgeMusic/Kickstarter Campaigns, PURE METAL (All posts), Pure Metal/News, Re-issues/special editions, RIP | Tagged Album News, All Posts, Americana, Band Entrees & Exits, blues, books, country, Festivals & Large Events, folk, melodic rock, metal, rock, Vangelis | Leave a comment

Album review: TOBY HITCHCOCK- Changes

Posted on July 25, 2021 by andynathan

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 →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, melodic rock, Pride of Lions, Toby Hitchcock | Leave a comment

Album review: RIAN – Twenty Three

Posted on July 9, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 16.07.21] Here’s a genuine contender. Rian, a Swedish melodic rock band formed by singer/writer, Richard Andermyer. On their second album now, and first for Frontiers. It’s produced by the hugely talented musician, Daniel Flores. He gives the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Blue Tears, Brother Firetribe, Eclipse, Frontiers, Gotthard, Harem Scarem, melodic rock, review, Rian, Twenty-Three, Work Of Art | Leave a comment

Album review: DENNIS DE YOUNG – 26 East, Volume 2

Posted on July 1, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release date 11.06.21) This is an album I’ve been looking forward to for 12 months since the release of Volume 1. That represented the former Styx singer’s return to his melodic rock roots in far better fashion than … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Dennis De Young, Jim Peterik, melodic rock, pomp rock, Styx | Leave a comment

Album review: CROWNE – Kings In The North

Posted on July 1, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 18.06.21] Crowne is (another) gathering of Scandinavian melodic hard rockers from various bands comprising of vocalist Alexander Strandell (Art Nation), guitar, keyboards & producer Jona Tee (H.E.A.T), bassist John Levén (Europe) and drummer Christian Lundqvist (The Poodles), … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Art Nation, Crowne, Europe, hard rock, HEAT, Kings In The North, melodic rock, review | Leave a comment

Album review: ONE DESIRE – One Night Only- Live in Helsinki (CD/DVD)

Posted on June 27, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 11.06.21) In normal times, it might seem vainglorious for a band to issue a live CD and DVD just two albums into their career. However, in these strange times it is easy to empathise with One … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, DVD REVIEWS | Tagged album, AOR, live album, melodic rock, One Desire | Leave a comment

Album review: NITRATE – Renegade

Posted on June 24, 2021 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 30.07.21] Nitrate are back with album number three and it is all change in the line-up. Nick Hogg remains joined by a new vocalist, Art Nation’s Alexander Strandell, Alessandro Del Vecchio (keys, backing vocals) and lead … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged 80's rock, album, Alessandro Del Vecchio, AOR, Def Leppard, melodic rock, Nitrate, review, Starship, Vega | Leave a comment

Album review: TOTO – With A Little Help From My Friends

Posted on June 22, 2021 by andynathan

The Players Club/Mascot Label Group (Release Date 25.06.21) Last November Toto broadcast a live stream from California, which in the absence of concerts was the only way to introduce to the wider world their new line up in which Steve … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Joseph Williams, live album, melodic rock, review, Steve Lukather, Toto | Leave a comment

Album review: KENT HILLI – The Rumble

Posted on June 13, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 18.06.21] After two albums fronting A Perfect Plan, Kent Hilli has gone solo (helped by wunderkind, Michael Palace, who has arranged and produced), with The Rumble, on which he has written the bulk of the material. Unsurprisingly, … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged A Perfect Plan, album, AOR, Crown Of Thorns, eighties, Foreigner, Frontiers, Giant, Kent Hilli, melodic rock, Michael Palace, review, Survivor, the Storm | Leave a comment

Album review: BILLY SQUIER – Emotions In Motion/Signs Of Life

Posted on June 12, 2021 by jason

BGO Records Two albums from Billy Squier’s classic 80’s period get a neat double CD re-issue. Not only of interest to fans of his work and 80’s US melodic rock, but also Queen fans as these two albums both feature … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), Reissues | Tagged album, Billy Squier, classic rock, Emotions In Motion, Jim Steinman, Mack, melodic rock, Queen, review, rock, Signs Of Life | Leave a comment

Gig review: JIM KIRKPATRICK- The Cavern, Raynes Park, London, 20 May 2021

Posted on May 27, 2021 by andynathan

If 2020 was a desert for live music, the road out of lockdown in 2021 has been an even longer and gloomier slog. Down in South West London, Cavern owner Noel Nevin has been fighting the good fight to stay … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS | Tagged blues rock, FM, gig, Jim Kirkpatrick, melodic rock, The Cavern | Leave a comment

Book review: On track…ASIA (Every album, every song) by Peter Braidis

Posted on May 25, 2021 by GRTR! HQ

Sonicbond Publishing [Release date 14.05.21] Asia were formed in 1981, one of the enduring melodic rock “supergroups” of that decade and one of the most successful. Many readers will only remember the “classic” original line-up (and debut album) but this … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, BOOK REVIEWS | Tagged album, Asia, book, Carl Palmer, Every Album, Every Song, Geoff Downes, John Payne, John Weeton, melodic rock, On Track, Peter Braidis, Progressive Rock, review, Steve Howe | Leave a comment

Singles: NIGHT RANGER, PATRICK HEMER, VOODOO BLUE,

Posted on May 25, 2021 by jason

NIGHT RANGER Breakout (Frontiers) A taster from the band’s 12th studio album, ‘ATBPO’ (And the Bands Played On), due out on August 6. It is a typical, upbeat rocker from Night Ranger with guitars to the fore and the band … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, Single and EP reviews | Tagged alternative, Americana, country, folk, grunge, Hearts Apart, John Carroll Kirby, Just A Ride, melodic rock, metal, Night Ranger, Patrick Hemer, pop, review, rock, singles, Udo Dirkschneider, Voodoo Blue | Leave a comment

Album review: MARK SPIRO- Traveling Cowboys

Posted on May 24, 2021 by andynathan

Frontiers Records (Release Date 07.05.21) Best known as a writer for Cheap Trick, Giant, Bad English and others, Mark Spiro’s career has significantly picked up after a dormant few years. Less than a year after the ’2+2= 5‘ triple anthology … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Julian Lennon, Mark Spiro, melodic rock, singer songwriter | Leave a comment

Album review: LOU GRAMM – Questions And Answers (3CD Atlantic Years Anthology, 1987-89)

Posted on May 23, 2021 by brianmc

Cherry Red [Release date 28.05.21] As with most rock bands, the singer and guitarist driving force is a dynamic that ultimately shudders to a halt, at least on a temporary basis: Steven Tyler/ Joe Perry. Mick Jagger/ Keith Richards. Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, anthology, AOR, Dann Huff, Foreigner, Giant, Lou Gramm, melodic rock, Mick Jones, Nils Lofgren, Peter Wolf, Question And Answer, review | Leave a comment

Album review: VINCE DICOLA – Only Time Will Tell

Posted on May 22, 2021 by jason

Escape Music [Release date 11.06.21] Vince DiCola is a musician / songwriter from Pennsylvania and relocated to LA in 1981 to advance his career. In the early to mid-eighties Vince was involved in some well-known film scores such as ‘Staying … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Bobby Kimball, Chicago, Escape Music, Kansas, melodic rock, Only Time Will Tell, prog rock, review, Steve Walsh, Toto, Vince DiCola | Leave a comment

Album review: MICHAEL FURY – Affairs In Babylon

Posted on May 20, 2021 by jason

AOR Heaven [Release date 28.05.21] Michael Fury are a band, as opposed to a solo artist, having formed in 1979 by vocalist/guitarist Myles Hunter (Avalon), bassist Martyn Jones and guitarist Rob Kennedy. They played a fair few gigs in their … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged Affairs In Babylon, album, AOR, AOR Heaven, melodic rock, Refugee, reissue, review | Leave a comment

Album review: SAVE THE WORLD – Two

Posted on May 19, 2021 by jason

Frontiers [Release date 07.05.21] Save The World is chief songwriter Dan Tracey (guitar, vocals, piano, keyboards, percussion) and Robert Wright (bass, vocals, keyboards, drums, guitars, strings, percussion and producer). Dan Tracey currently plays guitar and sings in the Alan Parsons … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, AOR, Brad Delp, Frontiers, melodic rock, progressive, review, rock, Save The World, Two | Leave a comment

Album review: DAVE BURN – Nothing Is As It Seems

Posted on May 16, 2021 by jason

www.daveburn.net [Release date 01.06.21] ‘Nothing Is As It Seems‘ is the 17th solo album from guitarist Dave Burn and first to feature vocals, a departure from previous solo albums which were all instrumentals. Dave Burn has toured and recorded as … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rock Stars | Tagged album, classic rock, Dave Burn, guitarist, hard rock, Lee Small, Lionheart, melodic rock, Nothing Is At Seems, Paul Raymond, Phenomena, review, Shy, Sweet, UFO | Leave a comment

Rising Stars: FANS OF THE DARK

Posted on May 13, 2021 by jason

Fans of the Dark were formed by drummer Freddie Allen (from the cult AOR band Houston), vocalist Alex Falk(Swedish Idol and theatre productions of Rent and La Cage Aux Folles, bassist Robert Majd (Captain Blackbeard, Metalite) and guitarist Oscar Bromvall. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/Rising Stars | Tagged Fans of the Dark, Freddie Allen, Houston, interview, melodic rock, Rising Stars, rock | Leave a comment

Album review: LEVARA – s/t

Posted on May 12, 2021 by andynathan

Mascot Records [Release Date 14.05.21] So there was an American, an Englishman and a Frenchman…. no, not a set up to one of the world’s oldest forms of joke, but the line up of hotly tipped new melodic rockers Levara. … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS | Tagged album, Josh Devine, Jules Galli, Levara, melodic rock, Trev Lukather | Leave a comment

Album review: PHIL VINCENT – Stigmata

Posted on May 3, 2021 by jason

Bandcamp [Release date 26.05.21] Solo album number 23 from Phil Vincent and like last year’s ‘Yesterday, Tomorrow & Today’ he is joined by guitarist Vince O’Regan and Janne Stark guests on ‘So Tired’, with Jacob Hansen once again in the … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, INTERVIEWS, Interviews/10 Questions | Tagged album, Beatles, hard rock, interview, Janne Stark, melodic rock, Phil Vincent, review, rock, Stigmata, Vince O'Regan | Leave a comment

Album review: STINGRAY (Remaster with bonus track)

Posted on April 18, 2021 by brianmc

Bad Reputation France [Release date 05.03.21] Enterprising French label, Bad Reputation, has been bringing some excellent new material to our attention recently. But for now we’ll focus on some classic blasts from the past, beginning with criminally overlooked South African … Continue reading →

Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS, Reissues | Tagged album, AOR, Bad Reputation, Boston, melodic rock, REO Speedwagon, review, South Africa, Stingray, Styx | Leave a comment

Album review: TEMPLE BALLS – Pyromide

Posted on April 16, 2021 by brianmc

Frontiers [Release date 16.03.21] Despite the diabolically bad band name, Temple Balls’ popularity and reputation continue to grow. Produced by Jonah (HEAT) Tee, Pyromide is their third album. Their high energy melodic rock songs have a bright, brash ebullience. But … Continue reading →