Tag Archives: melodic

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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Gig review: NIGHT RANGER – Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

NIGHT RANGER - Islington Academy, 12 March 2015

Once something of a holy grail for UK rock fans, Night Ranger visits are now regular on these shores – well London anyway. This was their third trip since 2011 but the band’s stock is high at the moment, last … Continue reading

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Gig review: EUROPE, BLACK STAR RIDERS – Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

EUROPE - Manchester Academy, 13 March 2015

I am still not convinced that two- or three-way bills are the best way forward for some of our premier bands.  The last time I saw Europe was a three-way with FM and Foreigner and notwithstanding poor sound (for the … Continue reading

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Quick plays: SYLVAN, ROB MORATTI, KYSHERA

Sylvan - Home

SYLVAN – Home Gentle Art Of Music [Released 16.02.15] This is the band’s ninth studio album and their first in three years. It is a concept album based on the human quest for what is home. Those new to Slyvan’s … Continue reading

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Album review: TOTO – XIV

TOTO - XIV

Frontiers [Released 20.03.15] Toto are back for their first new studio album since 2006′s ‘Falling In Between’. Since then the band have undergone a few changes with Joseph Williams back in the band since 2010 (he sang on their  mid/late … Continue reading

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News: HOOBASTANK, FM, JETHRO TULL – 11 February 2015

FM - Planet Rockstock, Porthcawl, 7 December 2014

HOOBASTANK + P.O.D. + ALIEN ANT FARM Thu May 07 LONDON KOKO Fri May 08 WOLVERHAPTON Wulfrun Hall Sat May 09 NOTTINGHAM Rock City Sun May 10 PLYMOUTH Univeristy Tue May 12 READING Sub 89 Wed May 13 WREXHAM William … Continue reading

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Interview: JK IMPERA

Impera - Empire Of Sin

Impera have just released their third and possibly best album to date ‘Empire Of Sin’ on Escape Music. Here we catch-up with mainman and drummer JK Impera… What have you got planned for the next few months music wise? e.g. … Continue reading

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Interview: JOHN PARKER and MICHAEL O’MARA of TALON

Talon - Fourplay

Talon release their fourth album, ‘Four Play’ on Escape Music on March 20th. They are back with original vocalist Michael O’Mara who fields the questions along with founder member drummer John Parker… What have you got planned for the next … Continue reading

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Album review: ECLIPSE – Armageddonize

ECLIPSE - Armageddonize

Frontiers Records [Release Date 20.02.15] In the crowded field of Scandinavian melodic rock hopefuls, Eclipse took a massive step forward with their fourth album in 2012, ‘Bleed And Scream’ which topped many end year best ofs. It was another triumph … Continue reading

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Album review: H.E.A.T. – Live In London

H.E.A.T. - Live in London

earMUSIC [Release Date 20.2.15] 2014 saw young Swedish melodic rockers H.E.A.T. gain significant traction with their fourth album ‘Tearing Down The Walls’ (GRTR! critics’ best of 2014). They really seem to have a special relationship with the UK audiences, so it … Continue reading

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Quick plays: GAMMA RAY, CHRIS GRAY, THE BLOW MONKEYS

GAMMA RAY – The Best (Of)

GAMMA RAY – The Best (Of) earMusic [Released 02.02.15] Amazingly it has been thirty years since former Helloween guitarist Kai Hansen formed Gamma Ray. This comes as a standard 2CD package along with a 2CD limited edition and for the … Continue reading

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News: VAN HALEN, TOTO, DAN REED – Friday 6 February 2015

Van Halen release their first alive album, ‘Tokyo Dome Live In Concert’ featuring David Lee Roth on March 31st. Toto debut their new single ‘Orphan’ on YouTube. Maxx Explosion release ‘Dirty Angel’ in early March on Kivel Records, who release … Continue reading

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News: THERAPY?, JIM PETERIK, JOE SATRIANI – Tuesday 3 February 2015

Joe Satriani - Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, 11 June 2013

THERAPY? (Their new album ‘Disquiet’ is out on March 23rd) Fri March 27 BRISTOL Marble Factory Sat March 28 GLOUCESTER Guildhall Tue March 31 BRIGHTON Concorde 2 Wed April 01 LONDON Scala Sun April 12 PORTSMOUTH Wedgewood Rooms Mon April … Continue reading

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