Monthly Archive: April 2023

”Penny For Your Sins” is the new album from Kent, UK based quartet BLACK ROZE, a collection of songs clad in a variety of styles ranging from Glam, Sleazy Hard Rock and Metal. There’s also a classic 1980s-style ballad, and an acoustic bonus.
This female-fronted outfit comprise of the distinctive voice of the entrancing Viixen, Baz Roze on Guitar, Steve Rankin on bass, with Vic Finch on the drums.
The opening title track kicks in with Baz‘s relentless riffing. It is propelled by the kind of electric guitar and pummelling bass that you love to hear upon entering a Rock Bar and sure takes you back to the early ’80s. The song thrives on unbridled power, driving Hard Rock feel and Viixen‘s straight-in-your-face vocals. A short half-time part lets you catch your breath before a short but brilliant lead guitar part. And ‘short and brilliant’ are keywords here – each song is very much to the point, perfectly balanced, tells a story and draws you deeper into the world of BLACK ROZE.
Sometimes gloomy and sinister, sometimes with a good times Rock ‘n‘ Roll feel – check out “Hit Me Up“, reminiscent of Motley Crue and certainly with no shortage of cowbell…

I like a good album cover. It catches the eye and sparks the interest. When I was a teenager in the 1980s, many an album was purchased because of what I saw rather than what I heard. Time moves on, and in the digital age, the album cover doesn’t always get the viewing that maybe they deserve.
I ramble on here because the cover art of ”Upstairs To Optimism”, the new album from UK progressive rockers TWISTED ILLUSION, leapt out at me when this package arrived for review.
On this album, TWISTED ILLUSION’s music is an intriguing mix of guitar interplay and some quite powerful performances. They pay homage to their influences, and while I’m unsure whether Styx is one of them, their harmonised opening vocals on ‘Stay Your Course’ suggests they’re extremely reminiscent of the classy vocals of Styx.
However, the songwriting influences all over here are much more expansive, ranging from the hard rock of Thin Lizzy to the progressive side of Kansas: British and American ascendancy…

“Attack Of Orym” is the new album from Finnish symphonic metal band DARK SARAH, the band around former AMBERIAN DAWN singer Heidi Parviainen. Musically the group explores more different styles than you typical sympho, sometimes joyful, sometimes dark, always interesting.
You’ll find tha classic modern sympho / progressive waves, but also pumpy melodic metal rhythms similar to later Battle Beast or Beast in Black albums, while other times there’s even somewhat of a pop sound, with a few tracks being particularly light and catchy.
Performances are strong across the board with the musicians all doing a great job. New band member Henrik Airaksinen in particular stands out, with his keyboards often being the main ingredient that pushes the music sometimes going for a more classical, symphonic-influenced sound, while other times going for a more retro looking for catchiness.
There’s certainly a lot going on with the keys on this album, and everything is done very well…

With the strong new PERFECT VIEW album featured here, many asked for the band’s debut CD “Hold Your Dreams” – their most AOR sounding work – in its Avenue Of Allies Records remastered reissue including a bonus track. This release has become very hard to find now.
Inspired by ’80s AOR legends, “Hold Your Dreams” is a stupendous rendition to the glory days of arena rock, when melody and the emphasis on the feel-good vibe ruled the airwaves.
Part of the ‘new wave of Italian AOR / Melodic Rock”, Perfect View was formed by Massimiliano Ordine, Francesco Cataldo and Luca Ferraresi back in 2008. Even though touted as a fairly new band in the scene, some of the members have previously collaborated with Olaf Thorsen (Vision Divine, Labyrinth), Roberto Tiranti (Labyrinth) and Alex DeRosso (Dokken, Dark Lord).
When originally released, “Hold Your Dreams” was one of the surprises / best debuts that year, and for many, still stand’s as Perfect View’s best.
It’s musically their most varied album to date, ranging from AOR to melodic hard rock, with a strong songwriting, good taste in arrangements, tons of energy and character in the musicianship…

Swedish AOR/MR purists GRAND DESIGN are back with the long- awaited new album “Rawk”, produced by Pelle Saether and recorded at Studio Underground Sweden. This album is the perfect follow-up to the band’s last album ‘V’, even more ’80s sounding than never before.
This Japanese Edition on digipak features a different cover art and includes 2 exclusive bonus tracks.
“Rawk” has that signature Grand Design sound that made them one of the top acts in the Swedish melodic rock scene. The new songs are packed with unforgettable choruses, shredding guitar work and a superb pristine production. Erik Grawsiö from Swedish act Månegarm, and Veith Offenbächer from German act Dawn Of Destiny appear as guests on one of the albums highlights, “Carry On My Wind”.
GRAND DESIGN always hit home, with multiple albums being crowned Melodic Rock Album Of The Year, and “Rawk” will be into many lists for sure…

UMe/Mercury and Anthem Records continue the comprehensive RUSH 40th anniversary album series with a new edition: the band’s decade-defining 1982 release, ”Signals”, an album that signified how the band was in no way detached and subdivided from the ever-shifting 1980s musical landscape.
Featured at 0dayrox in a world-wide exclusive premiere, ‘Signals 40th Anniversary” will be available to fans in different configurations, remastered, and with new artwork by original album designer Hugh Syme.
Rush’s ninth studio album was originally released in September 1982, and its technology-embracing riffs and rhythms, continued the forward-thinking trajectory of the acclaimed Canadian trio as it continued to chart the demands of a new decade.
The album’s eight songs built upon Rush’s penchant for adapting to the flow of the times without compromising its flair for melding long-established progressive roots with radio-friendly song arrangements. ”Signals”, co-produced by Rush with longtime band confidant Terry Brown and engineered by Paul Northfield, was the third of numerous Rush recording sessions held at Le Studio in Morin-Heights, Quebec.
The band’s synergistic recording process at Le Studio had been well-established during sessions for the aforementioned Moving Pictures, as well as the sessions for that album’s predecessor, January 1980’s Permanent Waves.
You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

After making waves in the hard rock world with their stunning debut record, Americans GUNSHINE are set to issue a new EP titled ”Checkmate”, on April 28, 2023. Hailing from Florida, Gunshine offers a breath of fresh air to the hard rock scene.
A musical love child conceived during the pandemic, Gunshine was birthed by Daytona Beach native and New Years Day axe man Austin Ingerman, who, as a result of the world shutting down, suddenly found himself off the road and eager to carry out his vision of forming a fresh, edgy rock n’ roll band. The vision was to create songs that had attitude, were melodic/catchy, and most importantly written very organically.
The new songs deliver that edgy bravado of greats such as DANGEROUS TOYS mixed with TORA TORA but with an original, modern twist. This new set has even more dynamic riffs, spectacular vocals and blistering guitar solos than their excellent debut album.
Add that with a heavy-duty production value that sonically gives the songs a punchy, powerful analogue-type sound. As far as 80’s arena rock band-influenced music with a modern flair goes, Gunshine‘s new EP proves they’re among the best.
This is KILLER stuff… one of the best we heard this year.
You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

WHITESNAKE explores the group’s 2008 return with the upcoming retrospective, “Still… Good To Be Bad”. The music will be available in different configurations on April 28, a few days after the original album’s 15th anniversary.
This ”Still… Good To Be Bad [Box Set]” has 4 CD’s: two new versions of the original album (one remastered and the other remixed), and selection of rare & unreleased studio. The package also includes a Blu-ray.
There will be other configurations; 2LP blue vinyl, 2CD deluxe, and Single CD edition. But this box set is therefore the only place to find the rarities.
This content includes new alternate mixes which also feature new background vocals from the ‘Hook City Harlots’, Cami Thompson, Misty Rae & Jackie Landrum, plus the ‘Hook City Horns’. There’s a version of ‘All For Love’ that features a different guitar solo by Doug Aldrich and the collection also includes ‘Evolutions’, a disc of unreleased recordings that presents a guide through the genesis of each song, from initial ideas with rough vocal melodies, lyrics and riffs through to finished demos and full band production versions.

PERFECT VIEW born at the beginning of 2008, with a sound close to bands like Toto, Whitesnake, Dokken, Winger, Journey, TNT, etc. They signed a deal with the German label Avenue Of Allies Music and the debut album ws called “Hold Your Dreams”, released worldwide in 2010. In 2012 a special edition of the album was released.
2013 saw the band performing several live shows and working in the studio for the new album entitled “Red Moon Rising” which was released in 2014. In 2018 the band signed a new contract with Danish label Lions Pride Music releasing their third album, “Timeless”.
After a major line-up change, the band recorded the new album “Bushido”, which will be released this weekend, once again on Lions Pride Music. The work has a concept dedicated to the world of the samurai. It tells the story of a Japanese boy who is born with a disability, but who manages to pursue his dream of becoming a great samurai just like his grandfather had been.
It is undoubtedly the album that required the most effort from the band, for the lyrics, for the music and for the arrangements. The band wants to pay homage to a fascinating country and culture.
Musically, “Bushido” showcases the best version of PERFECT VIEW; the band now feel tight, mature like never before, developing elaborated melodic rock / AOR arrangements in the vein of Journey…

REDSHIFT is 3-piece progressive metal band from Bath, UK, influenced by all exponents of the genre from Dream Theater to Rush. When we first heard their song “Entropy” we thought: Pure madness. Glorious madness. Those two statement still stand true or we should say are even truer after listening their complete new album titled ”Laws of Entropy”, out now.
Redshift’s sound is brilliantly refreshing and there’s a little bit of something for everyone and we don’t mean there’s a song for everyone. Be it metal, clean vocals, then harsh vocals, progressive, fusion, bass… whatever. There is a little bit of something for everyone in each and every song on ”Laws of Entropy”.
In having a little bit for everyone within a song, Redshift has an incredible sense of creating smooth transitions in a way rarely heard before. More often than not, when a band or artist is trying to put more than one idea, sound, technique into a song, it’s jarring and fails – Redshift soars beautifully.
You need to listen to these guys…

Finnish rock icons THE 69 EYES once again attempt to marry their Nordic goth roots with their affinity for the California Sunset Strip on the new album ”Death Of Darkness”. It’s a tricky combination to navigate as evidenced by the styles clashing throughout these 10 tracks. Nonetheless, you gotta give the Helsinki vampires points for originality and experimentation.
They always bridge the divide between BILLY IDOL, THE CULT and THE SISTERS OF MERCY with sense of style, and “Death Of Darkness” is nothing if not stylish. Like nearly every record THE 69 EYES have made over the years, it is also full to the brim with torchlit, leather-bound anthems.
Title track opens the coffin appropriately, being a moody goth toe-tapper with a haunting guitar lead. The magnificent “Drive” — an unashamed salute to BILLY IDOL — is even better, but THE 69 EYES have always been more than just a straight-ahead goth metal band, and the rest of “Death Of Darkness” strikes a grand balance between delivering the goods and torching the safety net.
The full-length then takes a more commercial, hard rocking style like in “California”. It’s a brighter rocker with some glam metal flashes confirming The 69 Eyes other influences: the ’80s Sunset Strip scene.
This is easily the most accessible, commercial and better produced – everything sounds clear – album from The 69 Eyes so far…

Cleopatra Records is releasing for the first time in the US ex-Hanoi Rocks guitarist ANDY McCOY album “21st Century Rocks” including bonus tracks not present into any previous pressing, plus refreshed cover art. Entirely recorded in Andy’s homeland Finland with Finnish musicians, this gives the album a ‘special vibe’ pretty much like his former band sound.
Andy McCoy is, obviously, most well known for his association with the legendary Hanoi Rocks for whom he was the lead guitarist and main songwriter. However, that is only part of a remarkable career where he has been on the go since 1977.
It’s more than a decade since Hanoi Rocks performed their last hurrah and put the band to bed with a final show at the Tavastia in Helsinki. As solo artist, Andy has been releasing standalone singles in recent years, however this is his first solo album since ‘Building On Tradition’ that came out way back in 1995.
And what a welcomed surprise it is: Sherriff McCoy, with his 60-a-day vocals take us through various tales in various styles on ’21st Century Rocks’, and this is a real treat…

German Melodic Rock act HOTWIRE released very well received albums between 1995 – 2006 in a time when music from this genre was scarce. 17 years ago, despiter their very good reputation and fan-base, HOTWIRE parted ways.
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the band in 2013, there was a first small live reunion with the almost original line-up. Now in 2023, the original members Michael Werner (vocals) and Tom Glas (drums) want to do it all over again.
For the comeback, they are presenting the best-of album “The Story So Far 1993-2023” with a new song and two newly recorded fan & band faves. The other twelve classic songs have been remastered. If you haven’t known HOTWIRE yet, you can now do so!
It is now the band’s intention to make themselves bigger and better than ever, and to prove they have what it takes to stay. If you are a fan of Bonfire, Mad Max, Hardline, Pretty Maids etc, then you really do need to be checking out Hotwire, as their polished yet punchy sound should be right up your street…

Some, many even, have suggested that HAWKWIND should be instated as a national treasure. They’re kinda accepted with a warm embrace now, cuddly uncles who are unlikely these days to be contrary enough to be playing a free gig in a field somewhere during the coronation of Charles III. Dave Brock’s possibly more interested in his dogs than rebelling against the mainstream these days. As the (reluctant) man in the prime spot, he’s joined again by Magnus Martyn and Richard Chadwick, plus Doug MacKinnon and Tim “Thighpaulsandra” Lewis.
The upcoming new work ”The Future Never Waits” to be released by Cherry Red Records is the band’s 35th studio album, an outstanding progression to their varied and celebrated catalogue. Creators of Space Rock, this new effort veers much more in ‘Classic Rock’, but with the band’s unique twists…