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Tag Archives: melodic rock
Gig review: MIDNITE CITY – The Lounge, Archway, London, 8 November 2019

The list of successful UK melodic rock acts is a frustratingly short one, but Midnite City must be going about things the right way. After releasing a pair of excellent albums in short succession they recently enjoyed the prestige of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged 8 November 2019, AOR, Archway, gig, London, lounge, melodic rock, Midnite City, Miles Meakin, Pete Newdeck, Rob Wylde, Shawn Charvette
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Album review: KING OF HEARTS

MelodicRock Records [Release date 22.11.19] King Of Hearts are another band making a comeback many years after their first shot at musical stardom back in the late 80s. However, their label at the time didn’t release their debut album which … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bruce Gaitsch, Chicago, CJ Vanston, Eagles, King Of Hearts, melodic rock, review, Timothy B. Schmit, Tommy Funderburk, Toto, West Coast
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Gig review: KISSIN’ DYNAMITE – Camden Underworld, London, 18 October 2019

Kissin’ Dynamite have over a decade’s worth of albums to their name, but the young Germans have managed to pass me by until I became aware their last album ‘Ecstasy’ was receiving rave reviews. Yet this sole UK date of … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Anna Brunner, gig, Hannes Braun, hard rock, Kissin’ Dynamite, melodic rock, review
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Quick plays: THIRD EYE BLIND, MICK DEVINE, KEYWEST

THIRD EYE BLIND Screamer [Release date 18.10.19] Album number six from Third Eye Blind and this reviewer enjoyed their last album, 2015’s ‘Dopamine’. Stephan Jenkins is back (in previous interviews he stated Third Eye Blind wouldn’t reach six albums) and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALL POSTS
Tagged album, alternative, folk, Hear Now, Keywest, Lonerider, melodic, melodic rock, Mick Devine, modern rock, pop rock, review, rock, Screamer, Seven, Stephan Jenkins, Third Eye Blind
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Album review: THE DEFIANTS – Zokusho

Frontiers Records [Release Date 13.09.19] Boasting three quarters of the Paul Laine-fronted Danger Danger line up that plugged on through melodic rock’s wilderness years, the Defiants debut was one of the best albums of 2016, but I can’t remember making … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bruno Ravel, Danger Danger, melodic rock, Paul Laine, Rob Marcello, The Defiants
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Gig review: THUNDER – The Garage, London, 26 September 2019

Thunder gigs come in all shapes and sizes, from the crowd pleasing festival appearances, to their semi-legendary Christmas shows, to the recent ‘Please Remain Seated’ semi-unplugged tour. Since their latest reformation for a third spell they have even played arena … Continue reading
Posted in ALL POSTS, GIG REVIEWS
Tagged Ben Matthews, blues rock, Danny Bowes, gig, Luke Morley, melodic rock, Thunder
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News: Albums of the Month (July 2019 – September 2019)

January-March 2019 April-June 2019 October – December 2019 DANNY BEARDSLEY Blood From A Stone www.dannybeardsley.com [Release date 20.09.19] Just when you thought it was safe to go back in to your ageing album collection – frustrated that much new … Continue reading
Album review: DOWN ‘N’ OUTZ – This Is How We Roll

UMC [Release date 11.10.19] Third album from Down ‘N’ Outz who feature Def Leppard’s Joe Elliott, The Quireboys’ Paul Guerin (guitar), Guy Griffin (guitar) and Keith Weir (keyboards), plus the rhythm section of Vixen bassist Share Ross and Wayward Sons … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Def Leppard, Down N Outz, hard rock, Joe Elliott, Keith Weir, melodic rock, review, rock, The Quireboys, The Tubes, This Is How We Roll, Vixen, Wayward Sons
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Album review: UNRULY CHILD – Big Blue World

Frontiers [Release date 09.08.19] The reunion of Unruly Child’s classic line up with original singer Marcie Free, which began with 2010’s excellent ‘Worlds Collide’, has stood the test of time with its fourth album since then. Two years ago, try … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Bruce Gowdy, Guy Allison, Marcie Free, melodic rock, review, Unruly Child
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Quick plays: ROBERT TEPPER, JEREMY IVEY, INTO THE UNKNOWN

ROBERT TEPPER Better Than The Rest AOR Heaven [Release date 27.09.19] Robert Tepper is best known for his song ‘No Easy Way Out’, which was the theme to ‘Rocky IV’ and has been subsequently released in various dance remix guises, … Continue reading
Album review: SOLEIL MOON – Warrior

Frontiers [Release date 09.08.19] Soleil Moon formed as a collaboration between singer Larry King (Michael Thompson Band) and keyboardist John Blasucci (Dennis De Young) back in 1999 and have released two albums to date, both of which any self-respecting AOR … Continue reading
Album review: DONNIE VIE – Beautiful Days

Deko Music [Release date 07.06.19] Former Enuff Z’Nuff vocalist Donnie Vie returns with a new album, his first in four years and a treat as it looked that after his last album, ‘The White Album’, he wasn’t overly keen on … Continue reading
Album review: PHIL LANZON – 48 Seconds

Phil Lanzon Ditties/Cargo Records UK [Release date 02.08.19] Hot on the heels of last year’s ‘If You Think I’m Crazy’ Uriah Heep’s keyboards player Phil Lanzon is back with another solo album, which again sees him working with producer Simon … Continue reading
Album review: THE REMBRANDTS – Via Satellite

Blue Elan Records [Release date 23.08.19] The Rembrandts – Danny Wilde and Phil Solem – return with their first new album in eighteen years. Forever known to many for the hit ‘I’ll Be There For You’ from the US TV … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, melodic rock, pop, power pop, review, the Rembrandts, Tom Petty, Via Satellite
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Album review: STRANDED – New Dawn

Escape Music [Release date 19.07.19] Stranded are the brainchild of multi-instrumentalist Lewis Nitikman, who was in Stonebolt and on this album he is joined by fellow ex-Stonebolt member guitarist Ray Roper. On vocals is Troy Reid (check out his singing … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Escape Music, melodic rock, Michael Bolton, New Dawn, reviews, Stranded, West Coast AOR
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Album review: H.E.A.T. – Live at Sweden Rock Festival

Release Date 26.07.19 It’s not that long since H.E.A.T. released a live album recorded at London’s own Highbury Garage, but this release serves two purposes. One is to showcase the standard bearers of the younger breed of melodic rockers on … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Erik Gronwall, H.E.A.T., live album, melodic rock, Sweden Rock Festival
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Album review: DAVE BICKLER – Darklight

Deko Music [Release date 19.04.19] Amazingly this is the debut solo album from former Survivor vocalist Dave Bickler, most famous for the voice on that band’s classic anthem ‘Eye Of The Tiger’. A solo album has long been rumoured and … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Darklight, Dave Bickler, Eye Of The Tiger, hard rock, melodic rock, reviews, rock, solo album, Survivor
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Album review: GRAHAM BONNET BAND – Live In Tokyo 2017

Frontiers [Release date 12.07.19] Vocalist Graham Bonnet has been busy of late, both solo and with his early 80s band the resurrected Alcatrazz. Studio, live and archive, and each one essential listening. With bands like The Marbles, Rainbow, MSG, Alcatrazz … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, Alcatrazz, classic rock, Graham Bonnet Band, Imperlitteri, live, Live In Tokyo 2017, melodic rock, MSG, Rainbow, review, rock
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Album review: FIRST SIGNAL- Line of Fire

Release Date 17.05.19 First Signal was conceived some years back as a vehicle to reunite Harem Scarem singer Harry Hess with the pure melodic rock style that arguably began and ended with the Canadians’ debut album, before they diversified into … Continue reading
Posted in ALBUM REVIEWS, ALBUM REVIEWS (Mobile), ALL POSTS
Tagged album, AOR, Daniel Flores, First Signal, Harem Scarem, Harry Hess, melodic rock, Michael Palace, Stan Meissner
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