Tag Archives: melodic rock

Gig review: KIP WINGER – The Borderline, London, 12 September 2015

KIP WINGER - The Borderline, London, 12 September 2015

Kip Winger’s solo acoustic shows at the Borderline have began to take on such a mythical status that the promotional blurb for this year’s show even marketed it as the ‘4th annual evening with Kip Winger’. It was noticeable that … Continue reading

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Album review: JOEL HOEKSTRA’S 13 – Dying To Live

JOEL HOEKSTRA

Frontiers [Release date 16.10.15] www.joelhoekstra.com Current Whitesnake and former Night Ranger guitarist Joel Hoekstra has released a handful of instrumental only solo albums and this time he’s gone for vocals. He’s not the singer, instead we have two vocal giants … Continue reading

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Quick plays: C.O.P., MARTINA EDOFF, TAD MOROSE

MARTINA EDOFF - Unity

C.O.P – State Of Rock AOR Heaven [Release date 25.09.15] C.O.P. are a new band featuring Grand Illusion’s vocalist Peter Sundell, who is joined by Ola af Trampe (guitar/bass) and his younger brother Christian (keys/drums). Take the first letter of … Continue reading

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Album review: SAGA – The Beginner’s Guide To Throwing Shapes/The Security Of Illusion

SAGA - The Beginner

earMusic [Release date 04.09.15] www.ear-music.net Following on from the recent best of, earMusic start their Saga re-issue campaign in earnest. They are releasing, in chronological order, the band’s studio albums between 1989 and 2007.  Each has bonus songs, often recently … Continue reading

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Quick plays: MAD MAX, BLACK TRIP

MAD MAX – Thunder, Storm & Passion

BLACK TRIP – Shadowline SPV www.spv.de [Release date 28.08.15] Drawing heavily on the influences of very early Maiden and other NWOBHM band of that era and ilk, Sweden’s Black Trip have followed up 2014’s “Goin’ Under” with new release “Shadowline”. … Continue reading

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Album review: CONSTANCIA – Final Curtain

CONSTANCIA – Final Curtain

MelodicRock Records [Release date 10.07.15] Swedish melodic rock band Constancia are back with their sophomore album ‘Final Curtain’ a full 6 years after their debut ‘Lost and Gone’ was released back in 2009. The band was formed back in 2007 … Continue reading

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Gig review: THE TUBES – Club Academy, Manchester, 8 August 2015

THE TUBES - Club Academy, Manchester, 8 August 2015

I really hope The Tubes don’t leave it another decade before their next UK tour.  I mean the 50th anniversary will be in 2025 and their oldest member will be nearly 80.  The band have always had a soft spot … Continue reading

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Gig review: STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL Day 2 – Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 26 July 2015

Dee Snider - STEELHOUSE FESTIVAL Day 2 - Ebbw Vale, South Wales, 26 July 2015

Photo: Simon Dunkerley What a difference twelve hours can make, from beautiful blue skies to masses of mud, the lovely Welsh rain has made an appearance but, no matter, the show goes on. Skam had the unenviable task of starting … Continue reading

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Album review: OZONE – Self Defence

OZONE - Self Defence

Escape Music [Release date 25.09.15] This album is a little bit special as it sees two of the UK’s premier rock vocalists team up, namely FM’s Steve Overland and Chris Ousey, currently fronting Snakecharmer and Heartland, plus he fronted Virgina … Continue reading

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Gig review: TYKETTO – Camden Underworld, London, 28 July 2015

TYKETTO - Camden Underworld, London, 28 July 2015

They may never have had the big break that their talents deserved, but US melodic rockers Tyketto’s standing among their loyal UK following is as strong as ever, judging by the way the Underworld was almost sold out for a … Continue reading

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Album review: S.A.Y – Orion

S-A-Y - Orion

MelodicRock Records [Release date 22.05.15] S.A.Y are Swedish and ‘Orion’ is yet another melodic rock record from the Scandinavian melodic rock factory that keeps churning out releases like it was 1986 all over again. Who are S.A.Y then?  Perhaps friends … Continue reading

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Album review: KELLY KEELING – Mind Radio

KELLY KEELING - Mind Radio

Frontiers Records [Release Date 03.07.15] After his shambolic display spoiled Baton Rouge’s long awaited Firefest appearance a couple of years back, I did wonder whether we would hear again from Kelly Keeling, but the respected singer whose husky, bluesy tones … Continue reading

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Album review: DIMINO – Old Habits Die Hard

DIMINO - Old Habits Die Hard

Frontiers Records [Release Date 03.07.15] Frank Dimino was lead singer in Angel, one of those cult seventies US bands talked of in hushed circles, but I was unaware he was still active in the business. However in one of Frontiers’ … Continue reading

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Album review: BEAUVOIR/FREE – American Trash

BEAUVOIR/FREE – American Trash

Frontiers Records [Release date 05.06.15] “American Trash” by Beauvoir/Free is a Crown of Thorns album in all but name and is a welcome return to the classic melodic rock sound of yesteryear. Jean Beauvoir, he of the impressive ever-present white … Continue reading

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Album review: SOLEY MOURNING – The Rocket Pool

SOLEY MOURNING – The Rocket Pool

Saltdog Records [Release date 29.06.15] West Midland hard rock band Soley Mourning draw on classic rock antecedents and well crafted, passionately played songs to shape their own brand of intense melodic hard rock. They are unafraid to tackle meaningful lyrics … Continue reading

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Album review: TRIXTER – Human Era

TRIXTER - Human Era

Frontiers Records [Release Date 05.06.15] Trixter’s moment in the spotlight at the turn of the nineties was fleeting. No  sooner had the New Jersey youngsters begun to make an impact with a series of catchy if unoriginal songs and photogenic … Continue reading

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Album review: NELSON – Peace Out

NELSON - Peace Out

Frontiers Records [Release Date 15.05.15] I was beginning to wonder if Nelson’s excellent comeback album Lightning Strikes Twice was also to be their swansong as a recording entity, but nearly five years on the immaculately coiffed twins are back with … Continue reading

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Album review: LUNDEN REIGN – American Stranger

LUNDEN REIGN - American Stranger

Cleopatra Records [06.04.15] OK, let’s get the name out of the way first.  It’s pretty naff.  And unimaginative.  Isn’t it about time that this purposeful phonetic misspelling malarkey faded into obscurity?  It may be my 11+/grammar school education, but it … Continue reading

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Album review: PETERIK-SCHERER – Risk Everything

PETERIK-SCHERER – Risk Everything

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] Founding Survivor member Jim Peterik returns with his latest project featuring his latest vocal find in Marc Scherer. “Risk Everything” was written specifically to suite the vocal talents of Scherer who he first met during … Continue reading

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Album review: FM – Heroes and Villains

FM - Heroes And Villains

Frontiers Records [Release date 17.04.15] FM may have spent last autumn on a 30th anniversary tour, but they are neither a nostalgia band nor one to let the grass grow under their feet. Two years after a pair of new … Continue reading

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Album review: KISKE SOMERVILLE – City of Heroes

KISKE SOMERVILLE- City of Heroes

Frontiers Records [Release Date 17.04.15] Despite the rather unimaginative name, some of rock’s most respected names are behind this project. The singers are former Helloween and more recently Place Vendome singer Michael Kiske and Trillium singer and vocal coach Amanda … Continue reading

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Gig review: DAN REED AND DANNY VAUGHN – Camden Underworld, London, 31 March 2015

DAN REED AND DANNY VAUGHN - Camden Underworld, London, 31 March 2015

Danny Vaughn and Dan Reed share a lot in common. Leaders of critically acclaimed bands at the turn of the decade (Tyketto and Dan Reed Network) who never quite had the mainstream success they deserved. People who quit the music … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Nightranger - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 14 March 2015 (Day 2)

Day 2 After a paltry 5 hours sleep and searching the little town of Criccieth for match sticks to keep my eyes open, and copious amounts of Pro Plus, I made my way back to the arenas where I like … Continue reading

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Gig review: HRH AOR – Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015 (Day 1)

Dare - HRH AOR - Pwllheli, Wales, 13 March 2015

After an early start and a four and a half hour drive, I arrived at Hard Rock Hell  and was immediately struck by how well organised the event was.  The site was immaculate and the staff were friendly and helpful. … Continue reading

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Gig review: WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED – Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

WHITE WIDDOW, NIGHT BY NIGHT, DEGREED - Underworld, Camden, 7 March 2015

March is now an even busier month in the gig calendar with bands fitting mini tours around the Hard Rock Hell United extravaganza in North Wales, and this was a welcome London showcase for three of the current generation of … Continue reading

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