Monthly Archive: April 2021

BADD BOYZ / RARE ALBUMS / SHORTINO

BADD BOYZ (Paul Shortino) – Badd Boyz [Japan only release] (1993) Rare Albums

As requested, here’s the quite unknown band BADD BOYZ and their sole self-titled album only released in Japan. Badd Boyz was a late ’80s project of Paul Shortino and bass player Sean McNabb formed when they leave Quiet Riot. The line up was completed by other talented musicians namely Mitch Perry (MSG, Talas, Steeler, Heaven), Michael Guy (Shark Island, House of Lords) and Rich Carlton.
Managed by Wendy Dio, the band had a deal with Pasha Records, but Murphy’s Law prevailed and the band broke up.
Most of the songs here were recorded 1989, others completed later by Shortino with different musicians and after an arrangement with a Japanese label, only released there in 1993.
This is a forgotten little gem plenty of huge rockin’ hooks, killer choruses, and gang backing vocals. Shortino sounds particularly good on this album, perhaps one of his best and unknown performances.

RAGING SLAB / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

RAGING SLAB – Raging Slab [Rock Candy remastered & reloaded] *0dayrox EXCLUSIVE*

As requested, here’s the Rock Candy Records remastered reissue of NYC Hard Rockers RAGING SLAB self titled 1989 album “Raging Slab“.
Signed by RCA Records and herded into the recording studio with legendary producer Daniel Rey (Ramones, Circus Of Power, etc) they crafted one of the greatest – or at least original – debut albums of the decade. With their hard rock southern bluesy mix, the Slab – as they were affectionately tagged – made for one hell of a circus side-show.
This is punchy, urgent, fried-chicken in motor-oil heavy stuff with a Seventies southern rock mojo amped with ’80s distortion / reverb, catchy as Hell…
Only at 0dayrox

KAISER AND THE MACHINES

KAISER AND THE MACHINES OF CREATION – Flowers And Lies (2021)

Released by Melodic Rock Records and mastered by reputed Maor Appelbaum Mastering in L.A., “Flowers And Lies” is the proper debut album from KAISER AND THE MACHINES OF CREATION. Founded by songwriter, vocalist and guitarist Paul Kaiser back in 2002, they released a two limited distribution albums and a ‘The Ronnie James Dio Tribute Album by Paul Kaiser and Friends’, but “Flowers And Lies” is the ‘true band album’ by Kaiser & Co.
‘’Flowers and Lies’’ is a very interesting album that mixes and blends its influences rather well and it’s all rather less simple than the ‘Australian Melodic Heavy Rock’ tag the band use in their promo. This is an album of light and shade, progression and simplicity, old and new and a heap of other contrasts…

FARCRY

FARCRY – Balance (2021)

After two critically acclaimed albums, Northeastern US rockers FARCRY dissolved in 2013. But founder guitarist Pete Fry resurrected the band with a refreshed line up and they are back 2021 with new album ”Balance”, released by AOR Heaven Records.
Faithful to FARCRY’s origins, the new material still is very melodic hard rock oriented yet more punchy, straight-forward, less keyboard filled and more guitar driven than before. ”Balance” makes justice to its title, melodic and at the same time powerful hard rockin’.
There’s lots of hooklines as well as quite versatile and mature songwriting. Just check out the hook-driven tracks “Stay Away“ and “Long Distance Love Affair“ for a first impression, or the emotional “I’ll Find A Way“ and “Chasing Rainbows“, too.
Definitely one of the best records recently hailing from America in the given genre…

FARCRY

FARCRY – Optimism (2011)

With the new FARCRY comeback album, it’s cool to revisit their previous album & review featured at 0dayrox back in 2011:
You don’t have to roam to the distant ends of the earth to find pure, undiluted melodic hard rock. Just look no further than FarCry, the band that dropped their critically-acclaimed debut back in 2009.
The band’s second album, “Optimism“, is finally here and they have really stepped it up, delivering some of the best sounding, heartfelt, straight-up melodic hard rock albums recently released.
“Satisfaction” is the perfect track to kick this album into gear. It’s an edgy rocker with a catchy melody combined with some slick guitar fills by Mr. Fry. The soft climb right before the solo has a very nice touch.
This leads into a very cool track called “Over and Over (Again!)”. This one is a bit more melodic enhanced by a strong chorus, some absolutely tremendous vocals

ELECTRIC BOYS

ELECTRIC BOYS – Ups!de Down (2021)

“Ups!de Down“, the seventh album Swedish favorites ELECTRIC BOYS is a classic hard rock affair with the band’s characteristic funk elements, tons of groove and a lot of passion. Timeless rocking music with quite some uniqueness in its sound.
Single “Super God“ is a winner, and also musically (and lyric-wise slightly obscure) “Never Again Your Slave“ is a real cracker. And you got to have balls to start such an album with an instrumental (the title track).
One of the few bands out there that really stick out and never fail to deliver the goods…

HUNTER (Chi)

HUNTER – Hungry Heart (2021)

Making its international presentation with their new album titled “Hungry Heart“, HUNTER is a band that hails from Chile and its musical style is classic melodic rock / edgy AOR. After the digital release of the band’s 10 track debut (which contained five songs in Spanish), the band gained the attention of fans, press and, of course, labels.
Danish label Lions Pride is always in the ‘hunt’ for such exotic releases, so it’s not a surprise that they signed the 5-piece after listening their quality material.
“Hungry Heart” contains twelve tracks inspired by the classic sound of the genre, all with English lyrics. Well played and properly recorded, the album should attract fans of both European & American melodic rock / AOR styles like Danger Danger, Passion, Survivor, Roulette, early Bonfire…
Highly Recommended

ESCAPE

ESCAPE – Fire In The Sky (2021)

British AOR outfit ESCAPE has been away for quite some time but now guitar player Vince O’Reagan (BOB CATLEY, LEGION) starts a new version of the band including a new line-up. New effort “Fire In The Sky” released via AOR Heaven Records is a collection of re-recorded and freshly, much better produced songs from earlier ESCAPE records and some of his solo stuff as well as two songs previously recorded by BOB CATLEY but written by O’Reagan (“Blinded By A Lie“ and “Walk On Water“).
This is classic UK AOR with lots of majestic keyboards however driven by sharp guitars and big vocals. If you dig the likes of TEN, NEWMAN or SERPENTINE, you can’t go wrong here…

POVERTY'S NO CRIME

POVERTY’S NO CRIME – A Secret To Hide (2021)

Celebrating its 30th anniversary as a band, ”A Secret To Hide” is the eighth studio album by Germany-based POVERTY’S NO CRIME, a mix of melodic hard rock, progressive and AOR all served by a pristine, crisp production.
The band shapes its own style blending these genres with ease, with attention to detail. Indeed, Poverty’s No Crime show a consistent feeling for hooks & melodies and always know how to put their skills on the instruments at the service of the song.
A mature, melodic, elaborated and at the same time catchy piece of work…

AXEWITCH

AXEWITCH – Out Of The Ashes Into The Fire (2021)

Classic metal fans from the ’80s might remember Swedes AXEWITCH. They had a demo, a few EPs and 3 studio albums from 1982 – 1986, just starting to make a mark in the metal scene. After 30+ years 2007 saw them reunite, though it took till 2021 for them to bring out new material in the form of the properly titled ”Out Of The Ashes Into The Fire”.
Including mostly the original line up, their new album is a fairly straight forward sequel to their ’80s material, with of course greatly improved production values. The material feels like it could have easily been written back in 1986, though the sound is more refined, showing the band’s musical maturity.
Despite its ‘heavy’ cover art ”Out Of The Ashes Into The Fire” is extremely melodic and polished, some kind of a mix between Thin Lizzy, Praying Mantis, Accept and early Europe…

MINDLESS SINNER / REMASTER / UNRELEASED

MINDLESS SINNER – Turn On The Power [Remastered digital reissue including early versions] (2021)

A cult act from the Swedish early ’80s Scandinavian metal scene, MINDLESS SINNER just got their second LP “Turn On The Power” reissued / remastered. The album was recorded in 1984, but released in 1986.
Tomorrow Pure Steel Records will release as well this digital download-only edition of the album including as bonus the early, previously unreleased 1984 versions of the songs, rawer, heavier, without keyboards.
At the time of “Turn On The Power”, MINDLESS SINNER was purely influenced by the NWOBHM sound, with a melodic approach and catchy choruses but a traditional style akin JUDAS PRIEST, 220 VOLT, PRAYING MANTIS, IRON MAIDEN, etc

DOOGIE WHITE

DOOGIE WHITE – As Yet Untitled +2 / Then There Was This [bonus disc] (2021)

Classic hard rock shouter DOOGIE WHITE is getting a 10th anniversary reissue of his solo debut album “As Yet Untitled” including 2 previously unreleased tracks, plus a bonus disc titled “Then There Was This” featuring a collection of classic hard rock covers.
“As Yet Untitled” contains very strong melodic hard rockin’ tracks, which Doogie has co-written with a number of good friends that he made over the years in the rock scene.
The list of musicians that have contributed to the album is very impressive without a doubt: drums are shared between Thomas Broman (Glenn Hughes) and Patrick Johansson (Yngwie Malmsteen), bass between ex Whitesnake Neil Murray, Ted Nugent’s Greg Smith and Paul Logue from Eden’s Curse, keyboards by Derek Sherinian & Tony Carey, and most of the guitars fall to talented producer Pontus Norgren with a little help from British bluesman Phil Hilbourne, Royal Hunt/Evergrey guitarist Marcus Jidell and Tank’s Mick Tucker…

ZODIAC MINDWARP

ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION – High Priest Of Love + Wild Child EP [0dayrox rip]

After the Rock Candy remastered version of ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION second album posted at 0dayrox, many asked for the band’s first album, the nasty, ass kickin’ 1986’s “High Priest Of Love“.
There was a limited edition on CD very hard to find now, so the 0dayrox team ripped the LP release for your listening pleasure. And we have more; Zodiac’s first EP ‘Wild Child‘ from 1985.
These recordings – and the band – were a completely different beast from the hard rock / glam metal acts at the time, and even influenced a change of image / looks in years to come.
Nothing comes close to those records, they are the highest of the high and the coolest of the cool, the grooviest and gravy-est and flashiest of all flash metal records, now and forever.
Only at 0dayrox

RARE ALBUMS / ZODIAC MINDWARP

ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION – The Friday Rock Show Sessions Live At Reading ’87 [rare CD]

Recorded at the now legendary Reading Festival by the BBC for their Friday Rock Show, this is the rare CD release of ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION one and only live album “The Friday Rock Show Sessions Live At Reading ’87“.
On this 30th August 1987 show, Zodiac Mindwarp shared the stage with the likes of Lizzy Borden and others, but they were headliners. This makes clear how popular Zodiac was at the time in Great Britain.
Performing live ZODIAC MINDWARP AND THE LOVE REACTION were a wild 5-piece, with a sharp twin-guitar attack and a punchy raw sound.
Kick ass rock n’ roll and a collectible.

FAITHFUL GRACE

FAITHFUL GRACE – A New Era (2021)

Swedish melodic hard rockers FAITHFUL GRACE have been around since 2009 playing the Scandinavian circuit and and sporadically recording some singles and an EP, but due the member’s busy schedule working as session musicians, producers and teachers, it was hard to materialize a full album.
With last year’s lock down the time has come, and FAITHFUL GRACE releases “A New Era“, an album packing classic songs from the genre (some written decades ago) with all that late ’80s / early ’90s feeling.
With a vocalist similar to Doggie White in style, classic twin rocking guitars and catchy melodies, musically FAITHFUL GRACE’s brings to mind Serpentine, Angeline, Phantom 5, Mats Leven’s Dogface, La Paz, etc.
Really good stuff…