NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA – Star Of The East (2017)

Ready for the holidays, we have a new album by NORTHERN LIGHT ORCHESTRA, titled “Star Of The East“. This Christmas-themed supergroup, founded in 2009, features more than 20 artists who are already successful in heavy metal and hard rock bands.
Vocalists and musicians in the Northern Light Orchestra include members and former members of bands such as Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, MSG, Slaughter, Firehouse, Dio, Quiet Riot, Winger, Kiss, House of Lords, Giuffria, and many more.

For this 2017 new album “Star Of The East” the all-star cast chosen is impressive as usual: Mark Slaughter, Bruce Kulick (Kiss), John Elefante (Kansas), David Ellefson (Megadeth), Chuck Wright (Quiet Riot), Doug Aldrich (Whitesnake, Dio, House of Lords), Kane Roberts (Alice Cooper), Kip Winger (Winger), Bill Leverty (Firehouse), Robin McAuley (MSG), Tony Franklin (The Firm, Blue Murder), Kendall Bechtel, Ken Mary (House of Lords, Alice Cooper), Steve Conley (Flotsam and Jetsam), and introducing Anna Hiltbrand and Laura Walsh.

The brainchild of keyboardist / writer Brian Stewart (Robert Plant, Hall & Oates) and produced by industry veteran Ken Mary (House of Lords, Alice Cooper), NLO is designed to create a total musical experience combining the powerful drama of Webber and Rice’s musicals with the emotionally moving musical styles of metal, progressive and hard rock styles.

There are a number of original tunes sprinkled throughout the album as well as a few adaptations of familiar Christmas songs.
There’s really good performances by Mark Slaughter and Doug Aldrich on ‘The Night Before Christmas’, it’s really cool to listen to again the great vocals of John Elefante on the title track, Robin McAuley in ‘Lonely Heart’, and a great solo by Kane Roberts in ‘Not Every Dream Comes True’.

All is pretty emotional and bombastic yet not overblown, delivered with a crystal clear production.
It is good to hear such excellent musicians and the likes of John Elefante or the always solid Robin McAuley again, he needs a full-time project to share his excellent classic pipes with the world instead of being relegated to specialty projects and tribute albums.
You could play this at your company Christmas party or anytime, it’s all quality stuff.

01 – Prelude
(feat. Kip Winger)
02 – Drag Me into the Light
(feat. Anna Hiltbrand & Mitch Perry)
03 – The Night Before Christmas
(feat. Mark Slaughter, Laura Walsh, Doug Aldrich & Chuck Wright)
04 – Hearts of Fire
(feat. John Elefante, Bruce Kulick & David Ellefson)
05 – Star of the East
(feat. Laura Walsh, Doug Aldrich & Chuck Wright)
06 – Lonely Heart
(feat. Robin McAuley, Bruce Kulick & Chuck Wright)
07 – Red
(feat. Mark Slaughter & Kane Roberts)
08 – Bring Me Balloons
(feat. Laura Walsh)
09 – Hope for the Season
(feat. Robin McAuley, Kane Roberts & Doug Aldrich)
10 – I Give You My All
(feat. Robert Mason, Bill Leverty & Chuck Wright)
11 – Not Every Dream Comes True
(feat. Kane Roberts & Chuck Wright)
12 – Angel’s Wings
(feat. Ken Mary & Chuck Wright)
13 – Another Holiday on the Road
(feat. Laura Walsh, Kane Roberts & Kendall Bechtel)

BUY IT !
www.amazon.com/Star-East-Northern-Light-Orchestra/dp/B077NDSDJL
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