Melodic Rock, AOR, Hard Rock, Prog, Classic Rock news
* Although REUBEN ARCHER has been around the hard rock scene for more than thirty years fronting Stampede, having stints with Lautrec, Wild Horses, Lionheart and now the Paul Raymond Project, the singer never considered a solo project. At least not until prompted by new Stampede guitarist Rob Wolverson. Wolverson offered to produce Archer’s new set of songs, and the...
* The last CD from British hard rockers JETTBLACK was among the best 2012 albums for this blog staff and most specialized media. While preparing its successor, the guys are releasing today, August 19th, a selection of hard to find b-sides, unreleased & re-worked material entitled “Black Gold”. The 13-track collection includes fresh covers of three classic anthems; “Barracuda” (Ann...
* We have in Australian DION BAYMAN another musician trying to find his place in the Melodic Rock circus. This is not easy when you look at the increasing list of bands who dominate this genre.After listening to “Smoke And Mirrors” I can only say that this Down Under guy don’t need to hide from his competitors. I think to...
* Without a doubt, German singer, songwriter & multi-instrumentalist Michael Voss is a busy man involved into many bands like MSG or his beloved Mad Max, and lately, producing other acts. He finds relax collaborating with his friend Holggy Begg (Swiss born) in Beggar’s Bride, a classic rock side-project.Since some years now both morphed this band into BEGGAR’S JAM, a...
* Texas wonder ERIC JOHNSON is always on the move, and while touring and recording his next album, has released a triad of new singles to enjoy.“Wonder” features his smooth vocals accompanied by his exquisite finger-pickin’ on the nylon guitar strings, whilst “Tidal” shows Eric’s sweet, expressive, perfect guitar tone. But this incredible musician isn’t just a great guitar player,...
* THE CULT got its first breakthrough success with the single ‘She Sells Sanctuary’ from the great album ‘Love’ in 1985, mixing Brit hard rock with Gothic atmospheres. When it came to recording a follow-up, the band booked into The Manor studios in Oxfordshire with Steve Brown again producing the album. By the end of October 1986 the album was...
* “Cinéma du Vieux Cartier” is the sixth album for Quebec’s RED SAND, a Canadian neo-prog act who are most often compared to Fish-era Marillion. I remember Red Sand’s 2nd CD being a really well crafted piece of work certainly inspired by early Marillion yet with their own personality. But the band slightly changed the musical approach in subsequent recordings...
* D.N.A. is a new international band put together by Portuguese guitarist & songwriter Alexandre Santos (Scar For Life) and American singer David Reed Watson (Rage Of Angels).By ‘new’ I mean the paint isn’t even dry on this project as it born last February and they’ve already released their debut “Life”. Scar For Life is Santos main band (a metal...
* ROBIN BECK is releasing today his brand new album “Underneath”. Ever since Robin returned to the AOR / Melodic Rock style of her breakthrough album Trouble Or Nothing, she’s been one of the most reliable artists of the genre.I thought her previous album The Great Escape was another career highlight and I glad to report that “Underneath” is once...
* CRYING STEEL born in Italy thirty one years ago influenced by the British metal scene at the beginning of the eighties. After several demos and an EP the band managed to release its debut album in 1987, they broke-up in the nineties till 2003 when they took shape again and a comeback album was out in 2007.Then was time...
* Female fronted German act ROCK IGNITION was founded seven years ago by Silent Force’s bass player Jurgen Steinmetz together with his girlfriend and singer Heather Shockley.“Innocent Thing” is the band’s second recording, again mixed by Pink Cream 69 mastermind Dennis Ward, who also contributes with some musical guidance. The melodic hard rock in Rock Ignition is clearly inspired by...
* MASSIVE is a new Australian hard rock band formed when drummer Jarrod Medwin (ex- The Deep End) and former Fastrack singer Brad Marr joined forces for a jam only a year ago. After one session they knew they had something and approached brothers Ben & Aaron Laguda and Massive was born. “Full Throttle” it’s the group fresh, just released...
STAN BUSH & BARRAGE ; If you are a true AOR fan, all the blabbermouth below is unnecessary… you only need to know that Rock Candy specialists have reissued, remastered in all its glory, this absolute 1987 classic. Anyway, have you noticed that there are only a few albums from the ’80s that sound dated nowadays? The reason is simple:...
* read comments Only a day after released, “The Enemy Inside”, the lead track from DREAM THEATER’s upcoming self-titled album (which will be released in September 24) has become #1 Best Seller Single in Hard Rock & Metal on Amazon. To my ears, “The Enemy Inside” is one of the best songs produced by the quinted in recent years, strongly...
* TYLA J. PALLAS is the once mercurial frontman of sleazy, drunken Brit rockers Dogs D’Amour, the underrated rough-n-ready bunch of rockers who enjoyed measured success in the late ’80s but, alongside The Quireboys, their brand of booze ’n’ roll was clearly lost on the Americans who preferred the more commercial and mainstream swagger of The Black Crowes.Anyhow, Dogs D’Amour...
