Tag Archives: melodic rock

Gig Review: HRH AOR, Magna, Rotherham, 6 and 7 April 2013

This gallery contains 39 photos.

Mia Klose, HRH AOR, April 2013

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

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Gig review: HALESTORM, Electric Ballroom, London, 8 March 2013

HALESTORM, Electric Ballroom, London, 8 March 2013

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

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Album Review: COVERED CALL – Impact

      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

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Album review: FM – Rockville

FM - Rockville

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

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Album review: M.I.C. – 5th Avenue

      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

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Album review: W.E.T.- Rise Up

W.E.T.- Rise Up

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

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Album review: SNAKEROOT – Downtown To Ghetto

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

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Album review: RAGE OF ANGELS – Dreamworld

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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Quick Plays: The Val,Juruda,Chris While & Julie Matthews,Carrie Rodriguez,Annabelle Chvostek

The Val - Back

The Val – Back The Val, named after vocalist Gabrielle de Val, are a truly European band.  De Val herself, is German, but writes in English (although I wonder whether lyrics that refer to Humpty Dumpty and petticoats has perhaps … Continue reading

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PINK CREAM 69- Ceremonial (Frontiers records- release date 25.1.2013)

German melodic rockers Pink Cream 69 have been going nearly a quarter of a century now and I remember them supporting Europe back in 1992, yet have gone under the radar somewhat, possibly because of their rather naff name. Ceremonial … Continue reading

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AIRLESS – Changes

Lion Music www.lionmusic.com (Released 18th February)         Airless is a Spanish hard rock outfit that has been producing music for over ten years, their debut coming out in 2002.  “Changes” is the band’s fourth effort – a … Continue reading

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10Q’s with MIKAEL CARLSSON (LOVE UNDER COVER)

Love Under Cover recently released their debut album ‘Set The Night On Fire’ on Escape Music. Although a new band the line-up includes Last Autumn’s Dream vocalist Mikael Erlandsson and Martin Kronlund (Gypsy Rose/Phenomena). Here we catch-up with bassist Mikael … Continue reading

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Best of 2012 FM

FM – Merv Goldsworthy, Pete Jupp, Steve Overland, Jem Davis & Jim Kirkpatrick – give their best of 2012. They are currently touring with Thin Lizzy and they have a new album ‘Rockville’ out next March… http://www.fmofficial.com/ What have you got planned … Continue reading

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LOVE UNDER COVER – Set The Night On Fire

Escape Music www.escape-music.com Sweden does it again as another great melodic hard rock band bursts onto the scene. Mind you one look at the line-up and they are seasoned musicians including Last Autumn’s Dream vocalist Mikael Erlandsson and Martin Kronlund … Continue reading

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AOR (Frederic Slama) – L.A.Temptation

AOR - L.A. Temptation

(AOR Heaven) There’s no doubt that AOR has been enjoying a revival in recent years, epitomised perhaps by the revival of the band FM, a dedicated UK-based print magazine, and a forthcoming UK festival.  And of course Firefest goes from … Continue reading

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TEN – Heresy & Creed

FRONTIERS RECORDS www.frontiers.it       Less than two years after returning to something like their old form with their Stormwarning release, Ten have capitalised on renewed interest and a successful mini tour with a new line up with an … Continue reading

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PAUL SABU – In Dreams

www.z-records.com         Z Records continue their fine re-issue series of Paul Sabu’s back catalogue and this album first saw the light of day as a Japanese import back in 1994, before Now & Then picked it up. … Continue reading

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PRIDE OF LIONS – Immortal

FRONTIERS RECORDS Bringing together ex Survivor keyboardist and songwriter to the stars Jim Peterik with relatively young singer Toby Hitchcock, Pride of Lions are something of a Marmite band in AOR circles. Among the many – myself included- who drooled … Continue reading

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Backstage Hero – PAUL ‘WOODY’ WOODWARD (MIDLANDS ROCKS)

Paul Woodward aka Woody has been writing for the Midlands Rocks website since 2009. He is a big fan of melodic rock a rather big fan of the excellent Vega… www.midlandsrocks.co.uk/   How did you become involved in the music … Continue reading

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Hard Rock Hell Prog festival April 6th & 7th

Magna Science Park in Rotherham, weekend of 6th/7th April 2013. HRH PROG launches a new interactive festival in proud association with PROG Magazine on April 6th / 7th at MAGNA in Rotherham The Successful Hard Rock Hell weekender team is … Continue reading

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Retro-Vibe music shop launches

Retro-Vibe Music: There’s a new store in the UK (South Wales) selling vinyl records and CDs, and over the next few weeks a new room will be added especially for CDs. Melodic Rock and AOR will have its own section … Continue reading

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ETERNAL ‘Chapter 1’

www.eternalsweden.com Another top hard rock band from Sweden shock! Yes Eternal are another in that long line of excellent Swedish melodic hard rock/metal bands and this is their debut album after releasing an EP back in 2008. Keyboard player Pontus … Continue reading

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FOREIGNER – Alive And Rockin’

Eagle Records 2012 This live CD was recorded at Germany’s Bang Your Head festival back in 2006. The line-up back then would have included not only Mick Jones and vocalist Kelly Hansen but Jason Bonham on drums and long standing … Continue reading

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GEORGE GAKIS – Too Much Ain’t Enough

Perris Records 2012 George Gakis has been releasing albums since 1989 and toured and supported many artists in his native Greece including Whitesnake, Glenn Hughes, Dokken et al. On this latest album he has a few top name guests including … Continue reading

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DAKOTA re-issues

Dakota/Runaway Rock Candy 2012 Formed by vocalists / guitarists Jerry Hludzik and Bill Kelly, this band had their roots in the early 70s as ex members of The Buoys and Jerry Kelly Band, before signing to Columbia and releasing their … Continue reading

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