After years as frontman for some of the most iconic rock bands, ERIK GRÖNWALL returns with a 2026 solo album entitled “Bad Bones”. The Japanese edition includes an exclusive bonus track, “Life Goes On” (featuring Erik Martensson on guitar), one of the best tunes on the album. This Japan CD is nearly sold out and already getting quite expensive.
Known worldwide for his powerful voice and impressive stage presence, Erik has made a name for himself as the frontman of SKID ROW, H.E.A.T., and most recently through tours across Europe and Japan (as well as recording a UFO anniversary album), where he took over lead vocals for guitar legend Michael Schenker.
With “Bad Bones,” he now turns his focus inward, delivering a raw and honest statement that heralds a bold new chapter in his career. The single “Bad Bones” sets the tone for an album that is fearless, personal, and uncompromising. After some (terrific) cover albums, “Bad Bones” consists exclusively of original material and marks a return to the core of songwriting – honest, powerful, and deeply personal.
Stylistically the record delves into all areas of Erik’s career to date. The sound is close to H.E.A.T, with touches of the band’s evolution in sound, while also taking in some new influences and that grittier hard rock sound heard with SKID ROW and NEW HORIZON.
One of the BEST albums of the year…

One of our contributors tipped us off to this remarkable release: OZZY OSBOURNE‘s album “The Other Side Of Ozzy Osbourne” only released in Japan on vinyl & cassette back in 1985.
This obscure, ultra-rare release is quite a find for fans of Ozzy — it’s essentially a B-sides compilation of Osbourne’s early solo work (from 1980 up to 1984). This the only release that does not feature a logo of Ozzy. Side A features music with Randy Rhoads, and Side B with Jake E. Lee.
This is a HQ vinyl-rip, great sound. The LP was released with a two page informational / lyrics insert plus 3 album sized photo pinups: images include Ozzy Osbourne, Jake ‘E’ Lee and Randy Rhoads. All scans are in excellent quality.
And what makes ”The Other Side of Ozzy Osbourne” a must-have are the five tracks that feature guitar legend Randy Rhoads (three live, two outtakes). When Rhoads died in early 1982, he unfortunately had only two official albums to his credit (1980’s Blizzard of Ozz and 1981’s Diary of a Madman). Subsequently, fans have been subjected to abysmal-sounding bootlegs of material not up to the high standards set by these two classics.
Even with the release of the Ozzy/Randy posthumous Tribute live album and numerous Osbourne anthologies, these tracks have managed to slip through the cracks. “You, Looking at Me Looking at You” is a rocking outtake from the Blizzard of Ozz sessions and contains a classic Rhoads’ guitar solo. The other track, “You Said It All,” was never properly recorded in the studio, and only this in-concert take exists (but it deserves to be heard because of its powerful guitar riff). And while the three live Randy-era songs are pleasures to hear, similar versions were later featured on the above-mentioned Tribute album.
The other five tracks showcased on “The Other Side Of Ozzy Osbourne” feature Randy’s replacement, Jake E. Lee; while Lee only lasted for two studio albums himself, he was a very original and talented player.
For proof, just give a listen to his awesome playing on the killer studio track “One Up the ‘B’ Side” and the live version of “Bark at the Moon,” where he simply shreds.
It’s a mystery that this album was never released in countries besides Japan, since it contains a wealth of material that many Ozzy fans don’t even know exists to this day. It’s never been released on CD either, so happy hunting in used record stores (being sold for $600 now!)

We featured the just released very early material from British melodic hard rockers Blue Blud, and their first official album. And now you need to hear their sophomore and last effort “Universal Language“, issued in 1991, where the band slightly shift their name to BLUE BLOOD. This Japanese pressing adds a bonus track and sports different artwork.
Echoing their prior LP, BLUE BLOOD fuse European and American influences with a refined production—less flamboyant, more organic. As example, the bass guitar gets a prominent role on “Universal Language”, turning these melodic songs toughter.
Musically these songs are very solid, with clever arrangements and strong choruses, a BLUE BLOOD / Blue Blud trademark. On this album, sonically the band brings to mind, at places, of 21 Guns, at others, Germans Casanova. Among the highlights there’s ‘She Shakes Me Up’, title track ‘Universal Language’, the midtempo AOR of ‘Cruel World’, and the bluesy ‘Homebound Train’. The disc also packs two power ballads; the very good ‘Say A Prayer’ and ‘Share The Night’.
The Japanese bonus track ‘Fool’ is a slow tune also, not exactly a ballad, but based in atmosphere…

After COMPANY OF WOLVES went on hiatus in 1992, the band continued operating while all members were active in the music business – vocalist Kyf Brewer involved into other projects and producing, and guitarist Steve Conte playing & singing on film soundtracks, videogames and recording for Peter Wolf, Suzi Quatro, Billy Squier, and others (Conte is current Michael Monroe’s guitarist).
At the beginning of 2000’s and with the incipient resurgence of classic rock n’ roll, COMPANY OF WOLVES started to work on a new album. The CD was released in 2001 by themselves, with zero promotion or proper distribution.
Now Bad Reputation specialists in conjunction with the band members are releasing these recordings on a CD titled “Rhythm ‘n’ Booze“. According to Steve Conte; “Finally, our 2nd album gets a proper release – the way it was intended be heard (and seen!)”. This Bad Reputation release adds songs never released while others have been remixed.
Despite of being self-produced, ”Rhythm ‘n’ Booze” has a major label quality – produced, engineered & mixed by Gary Lyons (Aerosmith, Foreigner) – and musically faithful to COMPANY OF WOLVES’ bluesy classic rock overtones.
There is not a single weak song on here. From the upbeat number “Rocks In Yo’ Head” through to the excellent feel good title track “Rhythm ‘n’ Booze”, this album will not disappoint fans of the self-titled debut and American timeless rock ‘n roll aficionados…

No doubt, Scandinavian melodic rockers NESTOR are one of the greatest surprises from the genre in the last decade.
Their latest album, 2024’s ‘Teenage Rebel‘, was re-released in Japan 2025 in a “Special Tour Edition” to celebrate their Asian tour, pressed on SHM-CD and including 3 exclusive bonus tracks.
Having formed in 1989 only to fall into a slumbering hibernation over three long decades, Nestor emerged stronger than ever in 2021 with their debut album, ‘Kids In A Ghost Town’, marking the band’s triumphant return to the spotlight and captivating fans with their timeless melodic sound and energy.
With glossy production and nostalgic authenticity, “Teenage Rebel” take you straight back to the golden age of rock music with songs like the multi-layered ‘Caroline’, the wonderful title track, and midtempo AOR tune ‘Victorious’.
The production and sound quality is what one could expect for an album of the Melodic Rock / AOR genre coming from Scandinavia: defined, huge and with a perfect blend between some crunchy guitars, sparkling keyboards and clean harmony vocals…

As requested, here’s another good 38 SPECIAL album, “Drivetrain“, the fourth recorded after their Nineties comeback with guitarist / vocalist Don Barnes back into the fold, and again with Survivor’s Jim Peterik co-writing most of the songs.
For “Drivetrain”, 38 SPECIAL were looking for a more pure Southern Rock sound, and gone is the commercial radio-ready feel in favor of a rocking delivery – this is a “Drivetrain” indeed – they’ve toughened up their sound considerably. Unlike the AORish bluesy hard rock material of the past, ”Drivetrain” is a heavy rockin’, bluesy album, with a distinct Southern flavor.
Donnie Van Zant and Don Barnes share vocal duties, both feature a powerful, gritty delivery with a Southern-like twang. This vocal style couples with the heavy guitars to provide an “in your face” style of bluesy “fried-chicken” hard rock.
It’s somehow refreshing hearing 38 SPECIAL rocking hard, still retaining the band’s classic melodies and polished production. I will say that this album is probably the heaviest (and one of the most consistent) album the guys have released in their career. The guitar work is…

Suffolk based melodic rockers BLUE BLUD came together as a trio in late 1986 with a line-up of ex- Trespass members the Sutcliffe brothers and ‘Robo’ Crawte on bass. After a self financed five track EP in 1987 the band added a lead vocalist and signed a deal for three records with Music For Nations.
The debut album ”The Big Noise” was released in 1989, and this Japanese Edition in February, 1990.
Musically BLUE BLUD achieve to combine the big hair metal American sound of the 80s with some more melodic European hard-edged AOR stuff. These guys were great crafting infectious choruses, layered harmonies, and melodic riffs where the arrangements are highly refined and very well-structured.
The album kicks off with “One More Night,” a track that boasts a crunchy, in-your-face main riff alongside an incredibly catchy hook. Songs like “Don’t Turn Out the Light” and “Secret Lover” showcase the band’s ability to seamlessly blend British hard rock DNA with polished, U.S. melodic rock AOR sensibilities.
There isn’t a weak track in the entire “The Big Noise”, BLUE BLUD were a cut above the typical glam‑metal and edgy AOR bands of the era. If you love the genre and the late ’80s, “The Big Noise” is a mandatory album…

British ’80s hard rockers BLUE BLUD had it all – the hooks, the looks, the material and a decent record deal. Things don’t always work out and what should have been a hugely popular band were instead relegated to a cult following. The problem? They were British but sounded (very) American.
The Brits had enough of that and wanted more “territorial sounding bands” shall we say. The Americans had all the American sounding bands they needed. The Japanese fell head over heels in love. When multiple tours and albums that sold respectable weren’t quite enough the quintet called it a day and went about their lives.
Drummer Paul Sutcliff spent some time digging through boxes and closets and discovered old demos for the debut album that never saw the light of day (Pre-Big Noise Demos), the limited ‘Liquor & Poker’ EP from 1987, as well as the previously unheard track, “In Love And War.’
And now 20th Century Music / Vanity Music Group is compiling of these and release “Early Blood: Demos and Rarities ’87 – ’92“, a wonderful showcase of a band that shoulda been huge.
The ‘Liquor & Poker’ EP is just awesome, a killer mix of melodic hard with a punky sleaze edge, stinging guitars, and a lot of attitude. Reminds of early SHY. The 1986 tapes have a touch of TOBRUK at its prime, while the Pre-Big Noise Demos are raw, early takes on these already great tunes.
Sound quality is very good on all songs!

As requested, here’s the Japanese Edition of ”Resolution”, the tenth studio album by Southern rock giants 38 SPECIAL, the band’s ”comeback” LP released in 1997 – their first record since the 1991’s ‘Bone Against Steel’.
With great guitarist Don Barnes back in the lineup for the first time since 1988, and long-time collaborator Jim Peterik co-writing 10 of the album’s 13 songs (also gets his first performing credit with the band as a backing vocalist), this info should be enough to end this review here: with the abundance of talent on offer you cant wrong with “Resolution”!
Indeed, if you enjoyed the awesome ‘Bone Against Steel’, then you need ”Resolution” – that kind of polished production and Peterik’s songwriting alongside Donnie Van Zant & Barnes.
The stellar production from Joe Hardy (Alice Cooper, Georgia Satellites) make songs like “Fade to Blue”, “Changed By Love”, “Miracle Man”, and the atmospheric acoustic ballad “Saving Grace” shine.
“Homeless Guitar” knock several decibels off their old Southern-boy approach, but the guitars get cranked back to ’80s-approved levels for “Shatter the Silence,” “Deja Voodoo,” “After the Fire Is Gone,” and the bluesy shuffle “She Loves to Talk,” proving that the band can regurgitate their old Southern rock sound while simultaneously finding new avenues of expression. Proof that an ’80s band can still make accessible music at the end of the ’90s.
H·I·G·H·L·Y  Recommended

As requested, here’s the rare Digitally Remastered version of British rockers DARK STAR album “Real To Reel” (1987), released for the first time on CD by No Remorse Records under license of Revolver Music Ltd. Despite of being reissued only four years ago, it’s already out of print as it was a 500 copies Limited Edition.
For this album Dark Star changed their initial hard rock / NWOBHM style in favor to keyboard laced melodic rock with catchy choruses. It was 1987, and bands like FM, Peroux, Shy, etc where embracing this sound as part of the British AOR / MR wave of the second half of the ’80s.
“Real to Reel” had 3/5 of the Dark Star debut line-up, but listening to it you’d never know it was the same group. They weren’t the only UK band to go from playing early 80s traditional metal / hard rock to radio-friendly AOR, but the difference between their approaches is striking. The album has a heavy keyboard presence, rocks about as hard SHY did in 1987 and is as polished as can be. It’s more White Sister than Iron Maiden this time around.
Now regarded as a collectors cult classic, and considering the original tapes were lost, it’s great to have “Real To Reel”…
Only on 0dayrox

To commemorate the 30th Anniversary of one LOUDNESS‘ most iconic albums, Nippon Columbia made a “Thunder In The East – 30th Anniversary Premium Box Ultimate Edition“, a true collector’s release, now out of print, requested here.
The box includes the main album remastered not only on CD, but also on vinyl LP and cassette, ‘Crazy Nights’ 7” single replica, 2 DVD, guitar picks, etc – but what makes this release of special interest are the two additional CDs featuring previously unreleased material.
You have here 1985’s “Thunder In The East” freshly remastered for this release, the record that finally put Japanese metal pioneers LOUDNESS on the map for the Western rock world thanks to an emblematic cover artwork, a simple but very effective album title and songs entirely performed in English.
Thank God, the band didn’t abandon their already quite unique sound to appeal to a larger mainstream public and this record still delivers everything one likes about the band: heavy rock with killer riffs. Of course some tracks are really catchy with more radio potential than before but this doesn’t mean that they are not technically impressive or original.
The 2 bonus CD’s include pre-production, previously unreleased demos from the recording sessions / creative process…

Impressive British vocalist JOHN LAWTON (1946-2021) first gained recognition with the German-based group LUCIFER’s FRIEND, whose early albums established them as one of Europe’s leading progressive rock acts. In 1976 Lawton joined URIAH HEEP, performing on the albums Firefly, Innocent Victim and Fallen Angel, as well as the live release Live in Europe ’79, before leaving the band later that same year.
Originally released in 1980, ”Heartbeat” was Lawton’s first solo album following his departure from URIAH HEEP. Now Repertoire Records is releasing a remastered version of this long forgotten LP, including a bonus track. Of course, we have it in exclusive on 0dayrox.
Although credited to Lawton alone, ”Heartbeat” features key members of LUCIFER’s FRIEND, including guitarist Peter Hesslein, giving the album a distinct flavour of the band’s trademark sound.
Recorded in Joe Menke’s ‘Studio Maschenin’, Germany, the album showcases Lawton’s highly distinctive vocal style across a set of polished melodic rock and early 1980s AOR material, with FM radio appeal too.
From the anthemic opening track ‘Lola’, the entire album has a radio-friendly feel, with rousing choruses, particularly on the synth infused ‘What A Woman,’ and showcases the powerful vocal delivery that made Lawton one of the most respected singers of the era.
”Heartbeat” (first released in Germany as ‘Hardbeat’ and with different cover art) stands as an important recording for the solo career of a remarkable singer whose powerful voice and versatility helped define an entire era of European Rock…

As requested, here’s the quite rare private CD release from New York-based Christian hard rock band DIVINE RIGHT A.D., also known as simply DIVINE RIGHT. The group was essentially songwriter / vocalist / virtuoso guitarist Kevin Brandow and other musicians. Brandow was later guitarist for PETRA.
In their active years in the late 1980s and the early 1990s, DIVINE RIGHT never had an official record deal with any label, their albums were all self-released. Three albums between 1987 and 1990 were released on cassette only, and in 1991 the band’s compilation “So Far…” was released on CD, comprising songs from all the three plus some extras.
This was a very strong project with kickin’ rocking songs – check out ‘The Gravel’ video-song below, with its Dokken-esque waves. Then ‘Tongues Of Fire’ rips into a tasty crunchy and driving hard rocking melodic metal guitar-driven riff; production is a bit raw, definite Dokken and early L.A. Guns vibe on this too.
“Lightning” is a banging mid-80 metal cut, verges on speed metal riff, shredding solo; and that vocals / reverb! Love it. Of course there’s a power ballad too; ‘On My Way’, including electric and acoustics.
Despite its indie nature (on both the original and reissue) “… So Far” turned out to be a very well recorded, performed and produced indie. Most of this is your general melodic metal and hard rock that was big at the time, it’s played well, and showcases some bright spots, especially the strong songwriting and complete guitar work.
Fans of Dokken, Shout, Joshua, early Stryper should hear this rarity!
You saw it here first on 0dayrox

Los Angeles based all-female rock n’ roll band JULEZ And THE ROLLERZ is releasing their new album titled ‘Dirty Little Rock N’ Roller’ via Lollipop Records.
Every few months another band strolls in wearing vintage leather jackets and claiming rock and roll is back. Most of them sound like they bought their personality from a thrift store. JULEZ And THE ROLLERZ avoid that trap with ‘Dirty Little Rock N’ Roller’, an album that actually feels alive instead of carefully curated for social media nostalgia. It has swagger without smelling like cosplay, and it understands that great hooks still matter just as much as ripped fishnets and loud amplifiers.
”Dirty Little Rock ‘N’ Roller” thrives because it never mistakes volume for excitement. Every song has a purpose beyond simply making as much noise as possible. Glam attitude crashes into gritty energy while sharp melodies sneak into your brain before you realize what happened.
The result is an album that feels reckless in all the right ways while remaining surprisingly focused. It is the musical equivalent of showing up fashionably late and somehow stealing the whole party without even trying…

Melodic hard rock fires back with passion and purpose as JORGE CANAN returns with his solo album ”Rise Above It All”, released by Eonian Records, featured in exclusive on 0dayrox.
Known for fronting RAZE and TOY CANNON while sharing stages with the likes of Poison, Skid Row, Zebra, Extreme, and others, Canan delivers a commanding vocal performance forged through years of live rock experience.
Packed with soaring melodies, arena-sized hooks, and fueled by faith, endurance, and redemption, ”Rise Above It All” marks a bold new chapter for JORGE CANAN’s solo career.
Backed by seven elite worldclass, studio musicians, this blazing 2026 release delivers the power of classic melodic hard rock with an inspiring message that hits just as hard as the music itself. Fire In My Heart, Rise Above It All, You Shattered The Night, Breaking Chains, rock with an unmistakably late ’80 feeling.
Some tracks are driven by heavy guitars, others are much more melodic and with anthemic choruses, where Canan’s vocals take center stage without overpowering the instruments.
”Rise Above It All” is very well done melodic hard rock, classic in songwriting & arrangements but modern in production sound…