CAROUSEL – Round & Round [FnA remastered + bonus tracks] (2021) HQ *Exclusive*

Austin, Texas based act CAROUSEL operated between 1988 – 1994, and while record labels were interested, the band only managed to release the cassette-only album “Round & Round” in 1992. Now FnA is making available all CAROUSEL recordings including unreleased tracks taped when the band was known as SKY HIGH, fully remastered.
Style-wise CAROUSEL were classic melodic hard rock similar to HAREM SCAREM, GARRISON, DOKKEN, etc, with strong songwriting, catchy melodies and very good musicianship.
Despite opening for national acts such as TRIXTER, SAIGON KICK, PAT TRAVERS (to name a few) and being featured at Metal Edge’s “Rock on the Rise”, CAROUSEL didn’t secured a recording contract and disbanded 1994. A shame, as they got the talent, the chops and the looks.

In the fall of 1989 guitarist Matt Clark placed an ad in the local alternative mag “The Austin Chronicle” seeking musicians for a hard rock project. Fellow guitarist Louie Beltran answered and the two quickly bonded over bands like White Lion and Dokken. They began writing songs together, solidified the vision, and set out to find their future bandmates.
Next to join the fold was drummer Steve Miller who happened to share a class with Matt at the University of Texas. The band still needed a bass player and lead singer.

Both roles were filled when Robert Ferebee entered the picture. They named the band Sky High and started playing shows at a local concert venue called “The Back Room.” Before long they were playing shows all across Texas.
The next step was heading into Austin Recording Studios (A.R.S.) to record their first 3 song demo with producer John Viehweg. On the strength of this demo they were featured in Metal Edge’s “Rock on the Rise”. They also played the New South Music Festival in Atlanta and one of the first SXSW festivals in 1991.
Also appearing at SXSW was a Swedish act who happened to be named Sky High as well. Their manager insisted on a name change, so the band re-named themselves Carousel soon after.
Simultaneously they became a 5 piece with the addition of lead singer Don Howell. Before long they were back at A.R.S. to record 4 new songs which once again landed them on the pages of Metal Edge and regional rock press around the United States.

This lineup’s final gig was opening for Bang Tango before Louie and Don exited the group. The third and final lineup of Carousel would consist of Matt, Rob, and Steve joined by Matt’s longtime friend, guitarist Jay Haygood. Soon enough they would head out on tour with the newly signed Cherry Street in 1993.
Rob, Matt, and Jay would later recruit Scott Freak and Bobby Sharron to form Freakhouse in 1994, releasing the cd “Addicted to the Numb” the following year.
Eventually Rob, Matt, and Scott moved to Los Angeles and released numerous albums under the Freakhouse moniker. Currently, Matt is mixing albums and has a new band with Scott Freak and Kendall Clark called Dead Soul Revival. Rob is back in Texas and has a new band called Livin’ Dark Daze with Buster Grant.

Songs like ‘The Feeling Is Right’, ‘Sweet Surrender’, ‘Heaven Was Callin’, ‘Kickin’ & Screamin’ are good examples of Carousel abilities to pen strong melodic hard rock songs with soaring choruses, all very well recorded and produced.
Many bands and recordings from the era haven’t held up well the passage of time. Not the case with Carousel. Even today, nearly three decades later the infectious melodies of the songs on offer here feels as strong as it did all those years ago.
Highly Recommended

01 – Sweet Surrender
02 – 19 & Nervous
03 – Remember
04 – The Feeling Is Right
05 – Kickin’ & Screamin’
06 – Tell Me Why
07 – Hold Back
08 – Waiting
09 – Heaven Was Callin’
10 – Time Stops

Don Howell – Lead vocals
Rob Ferebee – Lead vocals, bass
Steve Miller – Drums, vocals
Louie Beltran – Guitar, vocals
Matt Clark – Guitar, vocals
Jay Haygood – Guitar, vocals

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