MARC VANDERBERG – Highway Demon (2017)
MARC VANDERBERG is a songwriter and session musician hailing from Germany presenting his new album “Highway Demon” to be released tomorrow September 7. Not related to famous guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (note there’s a ‘r’ instead of ‘n’) but they have in common a passion: electric guitar and timeless hard rock.
Marc plays all the instruments, yet he’s mainly a guitarist, inspired by the likes of John Norum (Europe), Kee Marcello (ex- Europe) and ’80s Yngwie Malmsteen.
The album begins with ‘Highway Demon’, a hard rocker with a classic metal melody on it, lots of ’80s attitude and a Axel Rudi Pell feel.
Then arrives the album’s highlight; ‘Blue Eyes’ a fantastic tune akin Rainbow / Joe Kynn turner era and Yngwie’s third record Trilogy. The vocals of Raphael Gazal brings to mind Rob Rock and at places, Marc Boals.
“Bad Paradise” is very guitar-driven with solid verses, then ‘The Last Battle’ has a little neoclassical sound on the typical ’80s Malmsteen vein, but also DIO in the atmospheres. Another strong cut.
“How Do You Feel” is another highlight for me, a ‘metal ballad’ as it used to be done in the ’80s, very very reminscent of Scorpions circa 1983.
The pumping bass of ‘You’re Like Poison’ makes it very commercial alongside its overall catchiness, same with the welcomed keyboards on the very strong ‘The Final Chapter’, with some Goran Edman / House Of Lords on it.
Marc Vanderberg’s “Highway Demon” is very enjoyable album of classic ’80s hard rock, with strong songs, solid musicianship and a varied vocals by a good & versatile singer.
Fans of JLT/Rainbow, ’80s Yngwie, Scorpions, Michael Schenker… you know, this is for you.
Very Recommended
You’ve seen it first here, at 0dayrox
01 – Highway Demon
02 – Blue Eyes
03 – Bad Paradise
04 – The Last Battle
05 – How Do You Feel
06 – Indispensible
07 – You’re Like Poison
08 – When I Turn the Key
09 – The Final Chapter
10 – Total Eclipse
All instruments and programming: Marc Vanderberg
Vocals: Raphael Gazal
with:
Dustin Tomsen – drums on 3
Stefan Lindholm – guitar solo on 7
Pre Order;
www.amazon.de/Highway-Demon-Marc-Vanderberg/dp/B074FV7MQT
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