AOR Heaven [Release date 02.12.13] Having reviewed – somewhat disparingly I know (A slamming of Slama?) – Frederic Slama’s last offering (LA Temptation) and those of his protégées Chasing Violets – could this latest album redeem the “veteran” LA-based French-born … Continue reading
For nearly two decades, Australian Andrew McNiece has been the ringmaster and champion of the worldwide melodic rock community through his website www.melodicrock.com , which brought many of us together at a time when this type of music had been … Continue reading
Escape Music www.escape-music.com Album number three from ColdSpell and Tommy Hansen (Helloween/Pretty Maids) is again at the mixing desk. Good to see the keyboards and Hammond playing of Matti Eklund higher in the mix and like the Pretty Maids the … Continue reading
After some rare wider exposure playing Fairport’s Cropredy Convention in the summer, Romeo’s Daughter, were back playing to their loyal fanbase with this Friday night Underworld show. Indeed it was a double bill of arguably the two best female fronted … Continue reading
One of the most enduring bands from the European metal scene, Danish outfit Pretty Maids, have not played these shores since 1985 amazingly enough, other than an appearance at Firefest. In the circumstances it was disappointing that even the Underworld … Continue reading
The overused media format ‘an evening with’ was for once an appropriate one to describe Kip Winger’s solo show with a difference, from the moment he came on stage with a routine more suited to stand up comedy before strapping … Continue reading
BGO Records www.bgo-records.com Dennis DeYoung was the vocalist and keyboards player in Styx, a band he helped form and left under a cloud in 1999. These two solo albums are re-issued on one disc with sleeve notes from Neil Daniels, … Continue reading
AOR Heaven Jesse Damon is the guitarist/frontman with Silent Rage and this is his fifth solo album. He has renowned producer and melodic rocker Paul Sabu in the producer’s chair (Sabu also handles bass on the album) and Eden’s Curse … Continue reading
Frontiers www.frontiers.it Fergie sang on Le Roux’s wonderful So Fired Up and then joined Toto for one of my absolute favourite Toto albums, namely Isolation…it was just a shame that his time in the band was so short. Back in … Continue reading
Steve Newman and his band Newman have just released their tenth album, ‘Siren’ on AOR Heaven and it is quite possibly the best yet. Here Steve gives us an update on the new album, tour plans and more… What are … Continue reading
A couple of hours East of Ontario, Belleville is a modestly sized city of only around 50,000, but for three days it was the AOR capital of the world. Somehow the organisers, the local Empire Theatre, had lined up Journey … Continue reading
Frontiers Records [Release date 05.07.13] Having survived a brush with cancer, House of Lords singer James Christian is back with his first solo album in nearly a decade. Given that he is the only original member in the band these … Continue reading
Frontiers Records (Release Date 03.13) In 2010, one of the year’s most pleasant surprises came from Brazil, hardly a rock n roll hotbed. The brainchild of bassist and songwriter Alec Mendocna, N.O.W. provided a thoughtful and at times original twist … Continue reading
There have been some cracking melodic rock albums so far this year and now you can add Amaze Me’s new album ‘Guilty As Sin’ released on AOR Heaven. Peter Broman answers are questions on the new album and more… What … Continue reading
Covered Call have just released thier second album, the impressive ‘Impact’ via AOR Heaven. Here we catch-up with guitarist Joel Carlsson to find out what has been happening since their debut album and the background behind new vocalist Goran Edman … Continue reading
SPV www.spv.de (Released 27th May) This band I always confuse with prog rockers Fates Warning for some bizarre reason. I loved their ‘Rainmaker’ album however since then they have not really tickled my fancy until this … Continue reading
When discussing the recording techniques of the six million selling ‘Frampton Comes Alive’ in the bonus interview section of this excellent DVD, Peter Frampton remembers asking: ‘Why release a live album if you can’t hear the audience?’ It was the … Continue reading
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The crowded world of classic rock festivals, as with magazines, seems to be splitting into ever more sub genres. The Hard Rock Hell brand, which has become well established with their holiday camp weekenders already assuming legendary status, launched two … Continue reading
The rise and rise of Halestrom continues. Less than three years ago my first exposure to them was as the opening act on a three band bill with Theory Of A Deadman at this very venue, but the Pennsylvania rockers … Continue reading
AOR Heaven (Released March 28th) Been a few years since Covered Call last raised their heads after an enjoyable debut album released back in 2009 on the now defunct Blistering Records. They have a new vocalist as … Continue reading
Membran/Riff City Records [Release date 11.03.13 ] Listening to ‘Rockville’ you can’t help thinking “how on earth did the band remain nearly men” in the late-1980s in spite of a dedicated following and when AOR was “king”? And then you … Continue reading
Self release via Two Side Moon [Release date January 2013] M.I.C. is the brainchild of Canadian vocalist, guitarist and song-writer Yvon Serre, who over the last 8 years has carved out an AOR niche in China and … Continue reading
Frontiers Records [Release date 22.02.13] In a genre whose natural tendency is to look backwards, few new melodic rock acts have been as eagerly anticipated as W.E.T. Their 2009 debut, fusing the talents of prolific and versatile ex Malmsteen, Talisman … Continue reading
http://www.facebook.com/snakeroottheband Formed back in 2008 in Istanbul Snakeroot have released this, their debut album digitally and after playing this one for a few times I am surprised a label hasn’t picked them up. They quote lots of … Continue reading
Escape Music Rage Of Angels is the brainchild of original Ten keyboards player Ged Rylands and he has also worked with Danny Danzi and more recently guested on the enjoyable Love Under Cover album also on … Continue reading
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