Monthly Archive: January 2022

REMASTER / ROUGH CUTT / SHORTINO / UNRELEASED

ROUGH CUTT – Anthology [2xCD] (2019 release) *0dayrox Exclusive*

ROUGH CUTT not only was one of the most consistent hard rock acts during the 80s, but also one of the most prolific. Despite of officially releasing only two albums in the decade, they composed a lot of material and recorded it with very good quality standards.
As requested, here’s this release by Dead Line / Cleo Recs titled “Anthology“, taking a deep look at ROUGH CUTT’s history. It isn’t a ‘greatest hits’ at all, but a selection of studio recordings, demos, unreleased material and live captures from the vaults – compiled on a spectacular 2-CD set.
We have their very early ’84 recordings, unreleased material from the first album studio sessions, a really good live recording from 1985, and more…

REMASTER / STEEL BREEZE

STEEL BREEZE – Heart On The Line [AOR Heaven Classix remastered] Out Of Print

As part of the now sadly discontinued AOR Heaven Classix series, here’s the requested “Heart On The Line“, second album by STEEL BREEZE digitally remastered for the first time (now out of print).
This Sacramento act released a nice radio friendly self-titled debut via RCA, but the label dropped STEEL BREEZE soon after. “Heart On The Line” is their second effort, definitely AOR in style (1983) published by themselves in limited quantities, but never officially released until 1996.
With new vocalist Kevin Chalfant – if you ask me, one of greatest AOR vocalists of all time – who left the band 707 after recording the excellent Megaforce album, STEEL BREEZE opted for “Heart On The Line” a sound & style according to times; smooth AOR in the best American tradition akin PREVIEW, FRANKE & THE KNOCKOUTS, BALANCE, and even some LOVERBOY at places…

AMBROSIA / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

AMBROSIA – Road Island [Rock Candy remastered]

The other AMBROSIA album remastered by Rock Candy Records is “Road Island“, their fifth and final studio album until they reunited again several years after.
With the previous record, Ambrosia morphed into a hugely successful AOR unit, enjoying hit singles and mainstream media exposure very much in the breezy but precise style of Toto, Player and Steely Dan.
Of course, the icing on the cake was vocalist David Pack, a man whose voice has been compared to such masters of the art as Bobby Kimball, Michael McDonald and Steve Perry. “Road Island” saw them continuing with the commercial and catchy flavor of its predecessor, but tighten up a hard rocking approach and adding a touch of melodic progressive elements on some songs, blessed with ambitious arrangements.

AMBROSIA / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

AMBROSIA – One Eighty [Rock Candy remastered]

This one has been repeatedly requested, a proper copy of AMBROSIA‘s “One Eighty” – Remastered & Reloaded by Rock Candy Records. Fronted by talented David Pack this is one of that early ’80s AOR albums that defined the genre’s sound in the USA.
Based on America’s West Coast, Ambrosia began their recording career in the mid ’70s as a full blown progressive rock band, brandishing a sound that was clearly influenced by British groups like Procol Harum, Genesis and Caravan.
However, with the passing of time, their style was to radically shift towards a more accessible, song based, approach, resulting in brace of melodically inclined albums that elevated the band’s profile considerably…

CHOIRBOYS / REMASTER

CHOIRBOYS – Big Bad Noise [Bad Reputation remaster +7] *0dayrox Exclusive*

As requested, this is the Bad Reputation Records remastered reissue of Aussie CHOIRBOYS 1988’s second album “Big Bad Noise“, including as always a bunch of worthy bonus tracks. Written and recorded between 1986-87 make no mistake the songs on offer here are pure Eighties.
Co-produced by the band, Peter Blyton (Avion, The Radiators) and Brian McGee (The Rolling Stones, Cyndi Lauper) “Big Bad Noise” sports that glossy, pristine sound design from the era. The album was a hit in Australia and sold well worldwide, with the band supporting Bon Jovi and even touring America.
There isn’t a weak song here – the album includes their most popular song “Run to Paradise” – all feel-good melodic tunes. CHOIRBOYS’ sound is quite unique, as being a Melodic Rock / AOR act they don’t use keyboards, creating the lush melodies with smooth vocal harmonies and sweet guitars to deliver the song’s cool choruses..
Only at 0dayrox

CHOIRBOYS

CHOIRBOYS – Feels Good (2021-2022)

Any utterance of Australian melodic rock / rock&pop and you can’t go past CHOIRBOYS… a staple of Australia’s rock n’ roll landscape since their inception in 1978. Over 40 years on, their songs are still as relevant as ever and none other than their seminal rock anthem, ‘Run To Paradise’.
With the Covid-19 outbreak in 2020 that confined people to their homes, and forced the hand of musicians like Choirboys to adapt, they ventured from loud, sweat driven and gritty pubs to live-streaming a set of their classic songs to the very lounge room of their fans.
It also gave birth to their new album of hits recorded with new arrangements, a CD titled ”Feels Good”, appeared digitally last year and now pressed on CD and vinyl…

THE QUILL

THE QUILL – Live, New, Borrowed, Blue (2022)

With “Live, New, Borrowed, Blue” (Metalville Records) Swedish rockers THE QUILL are releasing a personal selection of unreleased song treasures from their long career, just before the band will go on club tour in Europe.
Digging through old boxes you find stuff you’ve totally forgotten about – and every once in a while you find old nuggets well worth rediscovering again. And when you’ve been active as a band for a long time, you always find songs that didn’t fit into the usual album format.
“Live, New, Borrowed, Blue” contains tracks from the sessions for their last album as well as some songs that THE QUILL recorded in the late ’90s for various tribute albums that are now long out of print. As a kind of icing on the cake, there are also two live tracks from the Sweden Rock Festival 2019, as a reminder of this fantastic performance.
By no means these recordings are outtakes, all are professionally recorded and produced, very good songs in their own right…

BIG BIG TRAIN

BIG BIG TRAIN – Welcome to the Planet (2022)

Coming just only six months after the band’s critically acclaimed top 40 release ‘Common Ground’, English progsters BIG BIG TRAIN are releasing their new album ”Welcome to the Planet”. The short time between albums is explained by two reasons: the experience of the pandemic has given the band the chance for creativity, and there’s new members into the line up bringing a lot of fresh ideas.
Featuring writing contributions from several of its members – old and new – ”Welcome To The Planet” sees Big Big Train retain its progressive roots but also creatively branch out and embrace influences from multiple other genres.
Now there’s a much more song format approach, accessible vocal harmonies, and a rock&pop joyfulness into the mix…

KLASSIK '78

KLASSIK ’78 – Phantoms (2022) *0dayrox Exclusive*

Few weeks ago we featured in exclusive at 0dayrox the “The Unoriginals” CD by KLASSIK ’78, a group of musicians focused more about the style and interpretation of KISS rather than making simple covers of existing classics. The band took it upon themselves to write and record a “lost” KISS studio record that could have followed ”Love Gun”. While the line up is comprised by renowned metal / hard rock musicians, their identities are hidden (we know ‘Peter Criss’ is Anthrax’s drummer).
Now they are back with ‘new / lost’ KISS songs into a new album titled “Phantoms“, to be released on CD in February. If you liked the previous album, wait to listen to “Phantoms”.
These guys are simply amazing recreating the classic ’78 KISS sound. The vocals are unbelievable – really, very impressive – the guitar and drum sounds are uncannily exact. And they write killer songs too!
‘Whatcha Gonna Do’, ‘Living Fantasy (Tonite)’, ‘Rock N’ Roll Over’… are these unreleased KISS songs? No, these are freshly written by KLASSIK ’78, but dude, all of ’em are pure Seventies KISS.
Only at 0dayrox

ERIC GALES

ERIC GALES (produced by Joe Bonamassa) – Crown (2022)

ERIC GALES is a blues rock firebrand. Over 30 years and 18 albums, his passion for the music and his boundless desire to keep it vital has never waned, even when his own light dimmed due to his substance struggles. Five years sober, creatively rejuvenated, and sagely insightful, Eric is ready for the fight of his career. Aptly, he calls his masterful new album, “Crown“.
And this ‘comeback’ can’t be better. Produced by Joe Bonamassa (a declared Gales’ fan) who also play a solo and co-writes most the songs, “Crown” is a compelling album of blues, hard rock, pop-rock and funk with Gales’ masterful guitar, warm vocals and gutsy emotional songs.
The record is as moving as it is brilliant…

REMASTER / SWEET COMFORT BAND

SWEET COMFORT BAND – Perfect Timing [Digitally Remastered] *0dayrox Exclusive*

As requested, new we go with is underrated mid-80s album with all the ingredients to please fans of the genre: 1984’s “Perfect Timing” by SWEET COMFORT BAND, fully remastered by Retroactive Records obtaining a pristine sound quality.
The involvement of AORster John & Dino Elefante took the SWEET COMFORT BAND to another level here: producing, co-writing and providing the musical shape for “Perfect Timing”. In short: polished, synth pumping AOR for the airwaves…

REMASTER / SWEET COMFORT BAND

SWEET COMFORT BAND – Breakin’ The Ice [Digitally Remastered] *0dayrox Exclusive*

As requested, here’s the SWEET COMFORT BAND second album, 1978’s “Breakin’ The Ice“, on its digipak remastered version by Retroactive. Often compared to Chicago, Blood Sweat & Tears, or the Doobie Brothers, the SCB sound at the time was a brand of FM rock, pop &rock, Soft rock and some West Coast AOR.
Sweet Comfort Band had a lot going for them, including prodigious talent, West Coast breeziness, and a sharp knack of coming up with strong tunes. In this case, they also had impeccable production on one of those organic releases where everything blends perfectly with everything else.
“Breakin’ The Ice” not only has it not dated, but this remastered edition makes the sound clearer than ever…

SCARLET REBELS

SCARLET REBELS – See Through Blue (2022) *0dayrox Exclusive*

Welsh rockers SCARLET REBELS surprised us with their solid debut album a couple years ago, and the band’s new effort ”See Through Blue” confirms the rebels quality as unit and songwriters. With a traditional hard rock style and a big, polished production sound, the new 11 tracks rock like Hell.
Frontman Wayne Doyle was watching TV in the middle of the pandemic when he found his anger rising. Some faceless British politician – he can’t remember which one, mainly because they mostly look the same – was shamelessly taking credit for footballer Marcus Rashford’s successful campaign to reinstate free school meals for children during those difficult times. This state of affairs inspired the title track of the five-piece stellar new album.
There is good reason why Earache Records signed Scarlet Rebels, and that reason is ‘See Through Blue’. It’s early January 2022, and this is one of the best rocking albums so far. It’s a rare these days for bands to get better with each and every album. OK this is only No.2, but these guys are onto something…

JETHRO TULL

JETHRO TULL – The Zealot Gene (2022)

JETHRO TULL are releasing their first studio album of new material in over 18 years – ”The Zealot Gene”. It’s been almost two decades since leader Ian Anderson used the Jethro Tull name on an album. And you’d have to go back even further than 2003’s The Jethro Tull Christmas Album for the band’s previous all-original studio LP.
”The Zealot Gene” arrives after a smattering of Anderson solo records, including a sequel to Tull’s classic 1972 album Thick as a Brick. It’s no coincidence that the music on the band’s 22nd LP recalls that storied era of codpieces, concept albums and extended flute solos. However, instead of side-long suites, ”The Zealot Gene” is focused in song format, according to times.
That time away, paired with renewed interest in making a Jethro Tull album again (in name and sound), leads Anderson to their most durable record in quite some time. You’d probably have to go back to 1977’s Songs From the Wood to find a more consistent Jethro Tull album…

PRAYING MANTIS

PRAYING MANTIS – Katharsis (2022)

British legends PRAYING MANTIS will release their 12th studio album “Katharsis” on Frontiers Music, which sees the long-running act steadily progressing from the sonic signatures of their last album. “Katharsis” features the same line-up that has been featured on the previous two recordings, with vocalist Jaycee Cuijpers and drummer Hans in’t Zandt cementing themselves as part of the band’s ongoing legacy. The two have truly provided a new dimension to the writing process and musical performances delivered by the band.
Together with founding members Tino and Chris Troy and guitarist Andy Burgess, who has been with the band since 2008, they have been crucial not only in the writing of the new songs, but in providing a new vision in terms of sound engineering and production.
To hear the band now, fans will experience both the spirit and energy of the early ’80s together with a technical style that brings the band into the modern era…