Tag Archives: melodic

Album review: STRATOVARIUS – Eternal

Posted on August 24, 2015 by jason
STRATOVARIUS - Eternal

earMUSIC [Release date 11.09.15] Amazingly this is the band’s sixteenth studio album and they have been around since the mid-80′s, although the present line-up has no original members. Vocalist Timo Kotipelto has also been busy with Cain’s Offering who released … Continue reading →

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EP reviews: EMPIRE OF FOOLS, CITY OF THIEVES, SPARK THE SAIL

Posted on August 19, 2015 by jason

EMPIRE OF FOOLS – Devil Inside (Mini-album) This is a very impressive debut mini-offering from Devon-based Empire of Fools – and I often shudder when I hear the term “melodic rock” because that genre includes Styx and Styx were fodder … Continue reading →

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Album review: NEWMAN – The Elegance Machine

Posted on August 11, 2015 by jason

AOR Heaven [Released 31.08.15] Steve Newman is back with his band Newman and joining him are his long term drummer Rob McEwen and on backing vocals Geoff Wootton and Mark Thompson-Smith (who worked with Steve Newman on the criminally underrated … Continue reading →

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Album review: STYX – Live at the Orleans Arena Las Vegas

Posted on August 5, 2015 by jason

Eagle Records [Released 24.07.15] Another live album from Styx, their ninth in total now and you may wonder if the world needs another one? Heck yes, as the band are in a purple patch live wise, sadly not recording wise … Continue reading →

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Album review: ONE THOUSAND YEARS – Get Your Rabbit’s Foot And Run

Posted on August 5, 2015 by jason

Arguably, the only two reasons you will ever have heard of Fremantle, Western Australia (population 25,000) are that AC/DC’s spiritual leader, Bon Scott, grew up there (in the sense that it was there that he got older, though perhaps not wiser) and … Continue reading →

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News: JOEL HOEKSTRA, FOZZY, THE LEMONHEADS – Saturday 1st August 2015

Posted on August 1, 2015 by jason

Guitarist Joel Hoekstra (Whitesnake/ex-Night Ranger) releases his new solo album, ‘Dying To Live’, on October 16th on Frontiers. Guests include Jeff Scott Soto, Russell Allen, Tony Franklin, Vinny Appice, Derek Sherinian amongst others. Nalle Påhlsson’s ROYAL MESS release their debut … Continue reading →

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News: RUSS BALLARD interview feature, Sunday 26 July 2015

Posted on July 26, 2015 by GRTR! HQ
Russ Ballard

Get Ready to ROCK! Radio Part 1, Sunday 26 July, 16:00 GMT Part 2, Sunday 2 August, 16:00 GMT In the first of a two-part special rock writing royalty Russ Ballard chats to Get Ready to ROCK! Radio’s David Randall. … Continue reading →

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News: SHOOTING STAR, MICHAEL MONROE, ART NATION – Saturday 25th July 2015

Posted on July 25, 2015 by jason
Shooting Star - Firefest X

Shooting Star have released their new album ‘Into the Night’ for free as a download on their website. Download by going to www.shootingstarmaniacs.com and using the code “1980″. Art Nation release their new album ‘Revolution’ on AOR Heaven on 28th … Continue reading →

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Album review: SAGA – Best Of – Now And Then – The Collection

Posted on July 19, 2015 by jason
SAGA - Best Of - Now And Then - The Collection

earMusic [Release date 03.07.15] A two CD best of released as a taster for the upcoming Saga re-issues due in the autumn. An interesting way to select the songs as it features one song from each of the band’s 21 … Continue reading →

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News: DEF LEPPARD, KEITH RICHARDS, THE WINERY DOGS – Sunday 12 July 2015

Posted on July 12, 2015 by jason
The Vintage Caravan - Shepherds Bush Empire, London, 18 November 2014

Phil Collen has revealed in a recent interview that Def Leppard will release their new album in October. The Winery Dogs plan to release their new album in October. The reunited Junkyard have release a new single ‘Faded’ and plan … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: OSUKARU, DAVID CELIA, ED DUPAS

Posted on June 29, 2015 by jason
OSUKARU Transition

OSUKARU Transition www.osukarumusic.com [Release date 01.06.15] A band led by keyboards player/songwriter Oz Osukaru and this album is half new material, with some older songs given a reboot. Must admit not to knowing the name, however the songs on here … Continue reading →

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Interview: JANNE STARK (Constancia) – June 2015

Posted on June 25, 2015 by jason
Constancia - Final Curtain

Janne Stark is a busy man with a new Constancia album ‘Final Curtain’ out on July 10th on Melodic Rock Records, plus he is a member of Grand Design and Overdrive. All of this and he reviews and writes books … Continue reading →

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News: VINDICTIV, CONSTANCIA, JOURNEY – Monday 22 June 2015

Posted on June 22, 2015 by jason
Journey - Manchester MEN,23 May 2013

MelodicRock Records release the following two albums on July 10th. Vindictiv release ‘World Of Fear’ and feature Mark Boals (Yngwie Malmsteen) on vocals. Also out on the same day is Constancia’s new album ‘Final Curtain’. The band features Mikael Rosengren … Continue reading →

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News: NEWMAN, EVERGREY, MUSE – Sunday 14 June 2015

Posted on June 14, 2015 by jason

DeathDealer (who feature Ross the Boss ex-Manowwar/The Dictators) release their new album ‘Hallowed Ground’ on September 11th via SMG Records. Newman will release their new, as yet untitled album, by the end of the year. Trixter’s Steve Brown will stand-in … Continue reading →

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EP review: BIG BIG TRAIN – Wassail

Posted on June 2, 2015 by jason
BIG BIG TRAIN - Wassail

English Electric Recordings [Release date 01.06.15] www.bigbigtrain.com Big Big Train are back with a new four song EP and the first recordings to feature new members, violinist Rachel Hall and Beardfish guitarist Rikard Sjöblom. I have to admit Big Big … Continue reading →

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News: ASIA, EXTREME, BOREALIS – Friday 8th May 2015

Posted on May 8, 2015 by jason

Asia release ‘Axis XXX Live in San Francisco MMXII’ as a 2CD/DVD and blu-ray formats on July 3rd on Frontiers. The Darkness have a new drummer, Rufus Taylor, son of Queen drummer Roger. Spotify are rumoured to be planning to … Continue reading →

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News: THE WILDHEARTS, STATUS QUO, DAN REED NETWORK – Tuesday 5th May 2015

Posted on May 5, 2015 by jason

Good news in that Joni Mitchell could soon be released from hospital, although B.B. King is currently seriously ill. Genesis keyboards player Tony Banks releases a 4CD set of his solo work entitled, ‘A Chord Too Far’ on July 6th … Continue reading →

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Album review: DENNIS CHURCHILL DRIES – I

Posted on April 26, 2015 by jason
Dennis Churchill Dries I

AOR Heaven [Released 01.06.15] Vocalist/bassist Dennis Churchill Dries (DCD) is known to lovers of melodic rock as the vocalist in White Sister and their successor band Tattoo Rodeo. White Sister issued two immense melodic rock/AOR albums in the 80′s and … Continue reading →

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News: HOUSE OF LORDS, TWISTED SISTER, DELAIN – Wednesday 8 April 2015

Posted on April 8, 2015 by jason

House Of Lords release their new album ‘Indestructible’ on June 3rd on Frontiers. Michael Bormann releases his latest solo album ‘Closer’ on May 22nd. Twisted Sister will perform two tribute shows, one in May and the other in June, to … Continue reading →

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Quick plays: CHITRAL SOMAPALA, MARK SLAUGHTER

Posted on April 2, 2015 by jason

CHITRAL SOMAPALA – Sinhabumi [Release date 23.01.15] Chitral Somapala is a big name in his home nation of Sri Lanka and on this album he sings in his native language. Rock fans will know him from his time in Power … Continue reading →

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Interview: TOMMY DENANDER

Posted on March 31, 2015 by jason

Guitarist/songwriter/producer Tommy Denander is a busy man with Radioactive about to release their first new album in over ten years ‘F4ur’ on Escape Music. This features a stellar cast of melodic rock vocalists including the late, great Jimi Jamison, Jeff … Continue reading →

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News: ROB HALFORD, MIKE TRAMP, DEEP PURPLE – Thursday 26 March 2015

Posted on March 26, 2015 by jason

RIP – John Renbourn, founder of folk rock band Pentangle Devin Townsend has revealed his next musical project will see him writing and composing a symphony. Rob Halford releases a 2CD, 30 track best of from his Fight, Two and … Continue reading →

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Album review: TALON – Fourplay

Posted on March 25, 2015 by jason
Talon - Fourplay

Escape Music [Release date 23.03.15] The fourth album from Talon and one that sees the return of the band’s original vocalist Michael O’Mara. That has been a masterstroke as he sings up a storm on this album and it is … Continue reading →

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Gig review: ECLIPSE, TAINTED NATION, REACH – Camden Underworld, London, 10 March 2015

Posted on March 15, 2015 by andynathan
ECLIPSE, TAINTED NATION, REACH - Camden Underworld, London, 10 March 2015

For the second time in three days the Camden Underworld played host to a value triple bill of three up and coming melodic rock bands, on this occasion with home grown meat in a Swedish sandwich (or smorgasbord perhaps?) However, the … Continue reading →

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News: MIKE PORCARO, DAEVID ALLEN, KISS – Sunday 15 March 2015

Posted on March 15, 2015 by jason
Dan Reed - Liverpool, 13 March 2013

RIP – Toto’s Mike Porcaro who had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. He was bass player in Toto between 1982–2008/2010–2015. In recent years he did not tour due to his illness and the band reformed in 2010 to help raise funds for … Continue reading →

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