American classic rock / classic hard rock hope ACE MONROE are back with a new full album “Wild Card“, and yeah, good ole rock n’ roll isn’t dead in the U.S.
Formed by young dudes in their twenties, ACE MONROE already surprised with their previous releases, and let me tell you these guys aren’t a promise anymore: they are here to rock. Hard.
To understand the group’s sound, you’d have to know who inspired them. From a songwriting standpoint, vocalist Robbie Dylan and lead guitarist Josh Alfano learned a lot from Aerosmith and The Rolling Stones, who they say span so many different styles and melodies all while maintaining their own unique identity. Other musicians and bands mentioned include greats such as Tom Scholz of Boston, Paul McCartney and of course, Led Zeppelin.
Along these influences, “Wild Card” brings to mind, for the most part, the organic sound of Tesla mixed with ’70s Aerosmith, that type of pure American feel, with melodic classy riffs and that vocals plenty of swagger. Expect no facades, no mysticism, no pretenses. Expect only one thing with Ace Monroe — sleek, unapologetic, hard-driving music that not only rocks, but rolls.
I’d suggest you that start listen to this album with with the hard rocker “Try”… what a killer tune. Or the broken “Talk”, a truly impressive hard rocker. Not to say the other tracks aren’t good – all are groovy, foot tappin’, including a couple a great slow bluesy numbers…

For the first time in decades, One of the best CCM AOR albums – STEVE CAMP 1983’s “Fire And Ice” – is being released 2025 in stunning remastered audio in Collectors Edition packaging. Just released by Girder Music as past of their Legacy Series limited to 500 copies, the album has been remastered by specialist Rob Colwell.
Originally released in 1983 on Sparrow Records, this album marked a significant shift in Camp’s musical direction – delivering a rock-driven sound mixed with synth-infused Hi-Tech AOR – earning a spot on CCM Magazine’s The 100 Greatest Albums.
Apart from Camp’s smooth voice, there’s incredible talent behind “Fire And Ice”. Rob Frazier, the vocalist from Petra’s ‘Washes Whiter Than’ album and a respected solo artist, co-wrote many of the songs on this record and contribute backing vocals.
Additionally, the unique Dann Huff, legendary guitarist for White Heart and later GIANT, play as session musician here. Known for his jaw-dropping skill and ability to bring an electrifying energy to any song, Huff’s contributions are a major reason why ”Fire And Ice”, at places, rocks as it does…
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Formed in the early Eighties, URGENT hailed from the suburban coastal town of Dun Laoghaire in Dublin. Dealing in atmospheric AOR / melodic Rock, they first appeared on the compilation album ‘Owl the Album’, which in turn lead to performances on the “RTE” television show ‘Borderline’.
Chris de Burgh offered them a support slot in front of 6.000 people in Dublin; they also played many more gigs in their home country and then released their first single called “Hearts of Stone” (with B-side ‘Live My Life’) on Debut Records in early 1987. ‘Hearts of Stone’ is quite possibly one of the greatest independent AOR singles ever released.
The atmospheric and poignant second 7” single, ‘Goodbye’, saw URGENT signed to a division of Polygram and charting in the Irish top 50. With many more amazing songs written in the following two years, the band undertook a fifteen-
date tour of Ireland, which resulted in them playing sold-out shows in Dublin, and undertook support slots with top Irish bands that resulted in them playing in several of Ireland’s more prestigious venues.
But regardless of all this exposure, that elusive record contract never progressed any further and sadly, due to internal issues, URGENT called it quits in early 1989.
Now as part of the excellent ”The Lost UK Jewels” we have Vol. 30; ”URGENT – Hearts Of Stone”, a CD containing full remastered versions of all their material plus a the whole story of the band told by UK Rock journalist Rob Evans. A collectible, limited edition.
If you like bands like FM, Foreigner, Strangeways and 2AM, you’ll love this release!

As requested, here’s more from the very good FRONTLINE discography, album “Against The World” in its Japanese CD pressing release including 2 exclusive bonus tracks.
“Against The World” is perhaps FRONTLINE’s toughest sounding record. Their first couple of albums held strong comparisons to Journey and sure enough, vocalist Stephan Kaemmerer retains that style to his voice. Anyway, this record has a more distinct European melodic hard rock feel – natural for a German band. While guitar-driven, keyboards still play a strong role – leading the intro for a few tracks, but generally act as a support to strong guitar parts.
This is still very much 80s style melodic rock, but the production is tighter, which helps the record sound more contemporary. Frontline’s unique vocal harmony production style is again the main force behind the strong choruses and anthem like hooks. If you have heard their previous albums, you will know what I mean.
Comparisons this time to Hugo, and his awesome debut album. Hugo as you know, is a strong resemblance to Journey’s Steve Perry, but with a darker edge. So to with Frontline and the style of this album…

Love the album cover. Love that retro feel reminiscent of Scorpions’ Blackout. And love even more the music inside of “Psychodrome“. Please allow Austrian quintet VENATOR to transport you back to 1983 when the spandex was tight and stripey, the riffs were mighty, and every chorus of every song made you want to thrust your fist skyward in triumph.
These dudes—Jakob Steidl (drums), Anton Holzner (guitars), Leon Ehrengruber (guitars), Hans Huemer (vocals), Stefan Glasner (bass)—are sure to scratch all your trad metal itches. Strong Blackie Lawless-esque vocals, galloping trad-metal rhythms aplenty and just the right amount of guitar heroics.
”Psychodrome” is a killer set of wonderful material that rivals a lot of the obscure / underground artists of 1983/84 that came from UK and Scandinavian territories in terms of charisma, finesse, and that ”it” factor to appease a wide selection of traditional melodic heavy metal fans…

A staple of the Atlanta music scene, GREAT WIDE NOTHING – comprising bassist/frontman and primary songwriter Daniel GRAHAM, keyboardist Dylan PORPER and drummer Jeff MATTHEWS – has spent nearly a decade in the trenches, gradually amassing a cult following with their expansive, wide-screen arrangements and pop-friendly hooks, counterbalanced by bombastic, balls-out musicianship.
Never the type to wait for anyone’s help or permission to do exactly what they want, GREAT WIDE NOTHING has carved out a unique niche for themselves without the backing of a label or any form of management. They’re a truly independent band; one that has earned their stripes – and the respect of their peers – the old fashioned way.
Musically, their new album “A Shout Into The Void” is a fascinating and diverse palette of sounds, one time sounding like FROST* most commercial or John MItchell’s ARENA, at others ’80s RUSH meets pop-rockers ICEHOUSE.
Results pretty amazing how these guys keep you hooked for 45 minutes of energetic, highly melodic, and pulsating thrills to be found here…

Formed in 2016, Stockholm-by-way-of-London power rockers THE RIVEN have carved a uniquely compelling place for themselves, drawing musical influence from a wide array of genres. Hard rock, old progressive, early heavy metal, and even simply rock ‘n’ roll itself. The quintet have forged their own path, displaying a sound fitting firmly within the late ’70’s and early ’80s.
After a complete listen to THE RIVEN’s new album “Visions Of Tomorrow” we ended with a deep, satisfied grin on our faces. That pure, powerful, intoxicating joy of true musical pleasure. The kind of moment that justifies why we fell in love with rock and heavy music in the first place. Why we’re still here, decades later, embracing it, supporting it, and celebrating all these fresh bands – like THE RIVEN – that emerge, pouring their heart and soul into this music, delivering the kind of raw, honest energy that still moves us.
Their music is a melting pot of hard rock, vintage progressive sounds, early heavy metal, and pure, unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll. This fearless approach leaves no stone unturned, weaving in lyrical themes that span from the rawness of everyday life to vivid fantasy landscapes, often merging the two. The result? A sound deeply rooted in the spirit of the late ’70s and early ’80s, yet pulsing with a fresh, modern vibrancy…

Pioneer U.S. Metal guitarist JACK STARR joins forces with Warlord / Alcatrazz vocalist Giles Lavery to unleash the sequel to Jack’s legendary 1984 solo debut album “Out Of The Darkness.
Almost four decades after that cult LP, the recording of “Out Of The Darkness II” finally crystallized. Jack previously said about the album, “This is the album I always hoped I would make, one that would be filled with power and glory but also melodic and passionate at the same time. This is the sequel to my 1984 album Out Of The Darkness, and it truly is a worthy successor that I believe will be embraced with the same affection that greeted the original. So yes, Out Of The Darkness Part II is here – Keep the metal burning.”
Rounding out the lineup is Gene Cooper on bass, ex- Manowar drummer Rhino, and newly appointed Warlord shredder Eric Juris on second guitar. Also featured on the album are guest appearances by Mark Zonder (Warlord, ex-Fates Warning) on drums and the awesome Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz, New England, Warlord) on keyboards.
With “Out Of The Darkness Part II”, Jack Starr returns with a fiery call to arms, blending classic Hard Rock / American Metal grit with a timeless message of freedom and resistance. It’s a record that channels decades of passion, struggle, and triumph into a bold new chapter…

We don’t feature too much Thrash Metal here except from the ‘four greats’, simply because in our humble opinion there isn’t too much interesting bands in the genre currently. Well, “Face The End“, the new CD from GAME OVER changed that. This is really well thought thrash metal, ‘listenable’, catchy.
With this album a new chapter begins for Game Over: turning into a five-piece act with the entrance of Danny on vocals and Leo on bass, the band aims to take its sound to the next level both in the studio and live. ‘Face The End’ is an album with a dual soul: a warning about the Western world’s critical state and a call to face challenges that often mark new beginnings.
The Game Over sound has reached new heights with heavier riffs transitioning from blistering fast sections to crushing mid-tempos and catchy breakdowns. Then anthemic gang choruses, and subtle synths parts create some eerie atmospheres inspired by ’70s and ’80s horror / slasher films, blending sheer intensity with haunting storytelling. Do you like early ’90s Megadeth? Better check out GAME OVER 2025…

Swedish metal band THE STORYTELLER return with their seventh full-length album, ”The Final Stand”, their first in over a decade. When everyone assumed they were done, the band is back 2025 in full force.
When we say ‘band’ it is a bit of a misnomer because as a one-man band, founder L.G. Persson seems to have changed members yet again. He has delivered a generous 13-song album that runs 65 minutes. After a protracted introduction featuring some orchestral sounds and some gentle acoustic guitar, we are launched into the Euro Power Metal stratosphere. The album races along the Metal highway as it should with excellent production and a nice mix in the instruments.
”The Final Stand” has some big backing gang vocals that help bolster the vocals of Persson. He does stay in the mid-ranges and had some nice grit and power in his delivery, but he is not an operatic style vocalist. He sings tales of epic battles, war and adventure in a high fantasy setting. Guitarist Cedrick Forsberg (Blazon Stone) plays to the song never too overstated or flashy. He had many decent solos and licks that match the style.
The whole album is characterized by good, straight-up Power Metal songs with melody…

Here’s in exclusive at 0dayrox the new Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Box Set “Screamin’ Down The House 1985-1988” from mighty rockers RAVEN, comprising 4 albums and an EP from the English band who were very much part of the NWOBHM movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
So here’s the thing about Raven. You either get it, or you’re one of the absent-minded person who think metal peaked with The Black Album. The world’s got no shortage of posers, but if you know, you know.
Raven were never ones to sit still. Too heavy for the mainstream, too wild for the purists, they tore through the ’80s like a runaway train – sometimes crashing, sometimes flying, but always moving.
”Screamin’ Down The House (1985-1988)” is a 4-CD testament to what happens when a band’s got the chops but the industry wants to dress them up in glitter. Yeah, it was 1985, and you needed to sound ‘glam metal’. While early fans of the band hate this second half of the ’80s Raven era, they produced some darn good albums and catchy songs.
On the first two discs we have ‘Stay Hard’ (1985) and ‘The Pack Is Back’ (1986) where the production’s cleaner than a dealer’s nose at a posh London club. But don’t let that fool you – underneath, the heart of Raven is still pounding like a speed freak’s pulse. Mad solos, hooks sharp enough to rip flesh, and moments of sheer unhinged joy. We love these albums, especially ‘Stay Hard’.
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GUNS N’ ROSES ”The Ultra Rare Trax” is a really cool bootleg released today (available on CD and double vinyl) promising ‘rarities, obscurities and oddities’ and indeed we find some fun stuff involving Axl Rose & Co.
We get recordings / collaborations / demos / live appearances with the likes of Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Steve Jones, Bruce Springsteen, etc. There’s a rare demo with Duff McKagan on vocals, very good live recordings from the Chinese Democracy tours, and other rare demos / unreleased.
It’s also nice to hear Axl and Slash as guests on a studio album from the band The Outpatients, and a live version of GN’R of AC/DC’s classic ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’. There’s some error too, as ‘Herod’s Song’ wrongly giving the credit as “Axl Rose with Meatloaf” which is in fact Delta Theatre Band, a song from a musical where both singers sound like… Axl Rose and Meatloaf. Or ‘5150’ performed by a Van Halen cover band whos’ singer voice is very similar to Axl.
Anyway, this is a nice to have bootleg, especially for GUNS N’ ROSES fans and collectors. Sound quality is pretty good for the most part…

Swedish classic hard rock band TEASER SWEET, who originally began playing Kiss covers, were formed in 2013 by guitarist Marcus Damberg. With the help of his sister, lead vocalist Therese Damberg, the band released three studio albums and one EP.
Now through High Roller Records, Teaser Sweet are preparing to release their fourth studio titled ”Night Stalker”, and ode the traditional ’70s / ’80s sound metal bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Dio. Then, for some pizzazz, throw in a fearless frontwoman who isn’t afraid to do her own thing.
First things first, Night Stalker is the perfect album length, clocking in at roughly 36 minutes. Straight and to the point rock ‘n’ roll. In a surprising twist, however, the album doesn’t start off with a banger. It starts off with a beautiful, one-minute, acoustic instrumental, which transitions nicely into the ferocious title track with its big earworm chorus. A Maiden-type gallop kicks off the next track, “Deep in the Woods,” which is a cross between Judas Priest’s “Traitor’s Gate” and Iron Maiden’s “Purgatory.” Strange combination, yes, but it works greatly.
”Turn Me On” leans into Teaser Sweet’s 1980s hard rock sensibilities, reminding one of a Pat Benatar or Lita Ford tune. The band shows yet again that they are at the height of their craft when building up to big choruses led by the tuneful but powerful wails of Damberg. The band also excels…

Legendary guitar virtuoso YNGWIE MALMSTEEN is set to release his brand new album, “Tokyo Live“, on April 25 via Music Theories Recordings. The incomparable Malmsteen is one of the greatest rock guitarists to ever have lived. So, when the chance comes to witness the maestro in the live setting, you take notice.
The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo, on May 11th 2024 as part of his 40th Anniversary World Tour. Calling upon an enormous catalogue of material, Malmsteen shredded his way through a furious set, backed by a mountainous Marshall stack wall.
The setlist tracks Malmsteen’s illustrious career, from “Hiroshima Mon Amour” and “Evil Eye” and through his remarkable solo career with “Rising Force,” “Far Beyond The Sun,” “Arpeggios from Hell” and “Seventh Sign” all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021’s ‘Parabellum,’ with “Wolves At The Door,” “Relentless Fury”, and not to mention rousing renditions of “Paganini’s 4th” and “Smoke on the Water.”

If you are a celebrated progressive rock musician who has produced dozens of albums, how do you make an album that is different to what is usually expected? One answer is to work with musicians who also have decades of experience and worldwide recognition, plant a few seeds, then stand back and see what happens.
For the COSMIC CATHEDRAL project and their debut album ‘Deep Water‘, this is exactly what Neal Morse did, joining up with Chester Thompson (Genesis, Frank Zappa), Phil Keaggy & Byron House (Robert Plant Band). Much of the album was created from jam sessions where Morse’s long-time audio partner Jerry Guidroz put the best parts together, such as for the 38 minute epic, ‘Deep Water Suite’. Says Morse, “Time To Fly, also came directly from one of the jam sessions, where we took one of Phil’s ideas and all four of us elaborated on it.”
What resulted from all this was a more groove-orientated feel, which Morse calls a “prog meets yacht rock meets The Beatles” kind of album, with an unmistakable fusion influence: “These guys are real groovers: even if they’re playing proggy stuff, it has more of a Steely Dan feel to it, but when Phil and I start singing it sounds like The Beatles!”
The chemistry between the four elder statesmen who comprise this band is palpable, and it is fair to state that a fifth presence, respected sound engineer Jerry Guidroz, contributes to the chemistry by doing far more than just mixing the ingredients…