Monthly Archive: May 2023

We just can’t get enough RAINBOW, and if you like classic hard rock then you need to listen to “Monsters Of Rock : Live at Donington 1980“, the performance of Ritchie Blackmore & Co at the legendary British festival.
A poor sounding tape circulated among fans for decades, until a few years ago the master tapes of the recorded concert were found, restored, and finally properly released as ”Monsters Of Rock : Live at Donington 1980”. Sound quality is very good.
On Saturday, August 16th, 1980 Rainbow took to the stage to headline the first rock festival to be staged at Castle Donington. It was the culmination of the band’s tour in support of the hugely successful studio album ‘Down To Earth’ released in 1979, and would prove to be the last live show featuring this particular line-up of the band: Graham Bonnet (vocals), Ritchie Blackmore (guitars), Don Airey (keyboards), Roger Glover (bass) and Cozy Powell (drums).
The set featured tracks from ‘Down To Earth’ alongside classics from earlier in their career. There are virtuoso solo spots for Blackmore, Airey and Powell which serve to highlight the sheer musical prowess in the band. The show climaxes with Ritchie Blackmore destroying his guitar and thrusting it into an amp which promptly bursts into flames before fireworks burst overhead at the conclusion of an explosive show…

“Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” is one of the greatest hard rock albums ever released by a British band. This classic was the final Ronnie James Dio-fronted recording by RAINBOW, and truly deserved a proper remastered reissue. The Deluxe Edition is very cool featuring some extras, rough mixes, etc, however, none rivals in sound quality this Japanese Limited Release / Super Audio CD pressed on Super High Material – SHM-SACD.
“Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll [Limited Release Japan SHM-SACD]” is sold out now, with used copies sold above $200, but worth every cent.
After this album, Ronnie James Dio would go on to front Black Sabbath, while guitarist Richie Blackmore hired a new singer in Graham Bonnet. But “Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” remains as more a than brilliant swan song for this excellent Rainbow line-up.
The title track is a fan favorite and one of the strongest tunes from its era – a heavy rockin’ cracker written for arenas. “Lady of the Lake” is a kick ass number featuring haunting background vocals, and still sound fresh today, even more with this pristine remaster…

Despite of being one of Denmark’s premier prog metal acts and one of the most remarkably consistent in the European scene, ANUBIS GATE is criminally overlooked four-piece. The same line up that has performed on the last three albums remains in place and their new upcoming album (June 2nd) titled “Interference” is the result of six years of material written & produced by the band.
With “Interference” – their eighth full length – ANUBIS GATE celebrates their 20th anniversary and does it with perhaps the group’s stronger platter to date. While a dark vibe at places, “Interference” delivers the band’s more riffy, straight-forward and melodic material from their career, with excellent singer Henrik Fevre just elevating the quality even more.

With “Interference” ANUBIS GATE not only turns more melodic and accessible, but also showcases diversity in the music. The songs are all equally harder edged and increasingly melodic but there are a variation of sounds presented across the ten songs.
That edge can be heard…

Accompanying the article featured here of RAINBOW‘s ‘Difficult To Cure’ studio album on Platinum SHM-CD, it’s necessary to post as well this “Boston 1981“, documenting Joe Lynn Turner’s first tour with the band while presenting the LP, only three months after it was originally released.
Released a few years ago under Ritchie Blackmore’s approval, this is a superb previously unreleased live performance recorded with a very good audio quality – everything sounds clear – at The Orpheum Theatre, Boston, MA, on May 7, 1981.
The set captures the vibrant energy and emotion pouring through the band as they offer up hot live takes of the new songs such as ”Spotlight Kid”, ”Can’t Happen Here” and ”I Surrender”, plus scorching versions of Rainbow classics “Man On The Silver Mountain,” “Long Live Rock N’ Roll” and the epic “Smoke On The Water” – all for the first time performed by Turner.
This limited edition housed into a mini-LP wallet, as said, sounds very good, a must for Rainbow / Purple / classic hard rock fans.
But wait, 0dayrox always give you more; this CD release omitted the show’s keyboard solo, Cozy’s drum solo, and ”Long Live Rock ‘n’ Roll” was shortened / cut. We have as extra these tracks to get the complete Boston ’81…

As requested, more classic RAINBOW in high quality. In this case, we have “Difficult To Cure” in its exceptional Japanese Edition Mini LP replica with HR (High Resolution) cutting, copied from the original UK tapes at FX Copyroom and pressed on a high-fidelity Platinum SHM-CD by Universal Japan.
“Difficult To Cure” is the fifth Rainbow studio album, the first featuring legendary American singer Joe Lynn Turner, formerly of Fandango, recruited to sang over already completed musical tracks. Turner stated that, because of this, he was singing in higher keys than he would do normally.
The album marked the further commercialization of the band’s sound, turning a bit ‘Americanized’ and catchy, leaning to a more melodic hard rock style.
This fantastic Platinum SHM-CD edition is the perfect excuse to re-discover a really great album from the genre, plenty of catchy choruses, sharp guitar work, lots of stabbing synths and a polished, immaculate production.
Pure Magic

Formed by American & Canadian musicians, SNAKE OIL started out as an escape from other projects these musicians were previously performing in. They started as cover band of ’80 melodic hard rock music. Then the project got wings and took off, and SNAKE OIL were plunged all over the USA and Canada headlining their own gigs and performing alongside some of the rock stars they were paying tribute such as Whitesnake, Starship, Cheap Trick, Night Ranger, Rick Springfield, Slaughter and many more.
But as musicians they fell back into the groove of writing their own material. However, by design, SNAKE OIL intentionally wrote new songs for their ever growing audiences, to complement the music they were performing in their shows.
But raising European label Lions Pride Music heard the material and offered a deal: SNAKE OIL self-titled debut album “Snake Oil” is being released world wide. And glad they did it!
This is pure ’80s melodic hard rock sounding stuff, plenty of catchy riffs n’ hooks. Having two lead vocalists – one female / one male – only makes things more interesting…

Accompanying the article featured here of RAINBOW‘s “Down To Earth” studio album on SHM-CD, it’s necessary to post as well “Down To Earth Tour 1979“, a Deluxe 3-CD box set of never before released live performances capturing Ritchie Blackmore’s hugely influential band on tour in support that stellar album.
We have 3 shows: Denver 1979: Recorded live at The Rainbow Music Hall, Denver, CO on November 16th 1979. Long Island 1979: Recorded live at The Calderone Concert Hall, Hempstead, NY on November 30th 1979. Chicago 1979: Recorded live at The International Amphitheatre, Chicago, IL on October 12th 1979.
Each performance is packaged in it’s own individual CD mini LP jacket with separate sleeves.
”Down To Earth” was the band’s breakthrough commercial success featuring new vocalist Graham Bonnet on such classic rock staples as “Since You Been Gone,” “All Night Long”, “Eyes Of The World”, etc, and it’s great to hear how these songs were performed on stage at the time…

Some day ago we featured an exceptional reissue of Ritchie Blackmore’s RAINBOW first album, and a fellow reader of this website asked for other classic LP’s from the band. In the case on “Down To Earth”, none sounds as good as this Japanese mini LP replica pressed on SHM-CD.
Sure, there’s the Deluxe Edition including as bonus rough mixes, instrumental demos, etc… and while it uses the same remaster, the sound quality of the main album isn’t the same. This Japanese SHM-CD release is just the album in its sonic glory, and that’s all we need.
For many, “Down to Earth” is their favorite Rainbow album. It has everything a good hard rock album requires. Great riffs, stunning solos, thunderous drum beats, quality bass work, amazing keyboards, and a great voice. And of course, includes ‘Since You Been Gone’…

Leader of melodic rock collective LIBERTY ‘N JUSTICE, Justin Murr, towards the end of 2021 unexpectedly passed away due to complications from Covid-19. Before that, Justin just finished the album with his new project AFTER ADAM, which finally was released shortly after Justin’s passing.
But the album, titled “Cosmonaut Cowboys“, only was released on physical CD in the USA and pretty hard to find overseas. However, given the passion and skill on display, it seemed tragic to not let the album hit the digital realm to find the extent of its audience.
Now 2023, for the first time, ”Cosmonaut Cowboys” is being available world-wide on all major platforms, featuring a fresh new artwork.
AFTER ADAM is a band that we promise will satisfy people that enjoy hooky, infectious sing-along ’80s music. ‘Cosmonaut Cowboys’ is an album that is emotion driven and anthem bound, a “Summertime” platter if there ever was one.
This is melodic rock / pop-rock embracing the emotion of days gone by and memories of a simpler and happy time for many. So, grab your boom box, pop in that cassette, hit play and let this band take you back to the Eighties…

Nearly four decades after the original vinyl release in August 1981, JOHN MILES record ‘Miles High‘ was finally reissued on CD for the first time – hence, remastered – by Lemon Recordings / Cherry Red. The remaster is excellent, with a warm sound.
This, Miles sixth album, not only became hard to find on LP or cassette, but also to find a decent used copy. The album seemed elusive, and desirable; probably destined to exist on worn-out second hand vinyl only, forever.
‘Miles High’ contains the singles ‘Turn Yourself Loose’ (with its beside ‘Closer To You’ included into this reissue as bonus track) and ‘Reggae Man’, a good album track, but an unlikely single, coupled with ‘One Step Closer To Paradise’. In the USA, ‘Don’t Want The Same Things’ / ‘Reggae Man’ was the chosen single.
Style wise ‘Miles High’ style is classic John Miles featuring first class session musicians, whilst the sound production is typically 1980-81: polished, with a FM appeal, radio-friendly…

We all know umpteen bands who worship at the altar of the original progressive rock legends, and some are pretty good. Some less so. K’MONO are superb.
After listening this Minneapolis, Minnesota based band new album “Mind Out Of Mind” we are impressed. There’s no denying their influences; they are myriad and obvious. You’ll spot them easily, yet each is fleeting and simply the palette they draw from to create their own ‘thing’. K’MONO certainly use similarly dated instrumentation and wear their influences proudly, yet sound like nobody but themselves. It’s recognizably “prog” with an engaging musical throughline, and there are lots of lovely little twists and surprises.
The band put special attention in the mixing and arrangements – there’s an incredible ‘stereo‘ all over it – so prepare your headphones.
If this record had been released in ’70s, it might have been a bit idiosyncratic to sell well, but would definitely by now be regarded as a cult classic…

No doubt one of the NWOBHM pioneer acts, power-trio RAVEN – self-styled “athletic rockers” – were a huge influence on future metal bands, such as Megadeth, Metallica, Testament, etc.
Raven was formed by brothers Mark and John Gallagher, playing their first gig in 1975 while building up a loyal following across the North East of England. The band released their first 45rpm single ‘Don’t Need Your Money’ in 1980, followed by debut LP ‘Rock Until You Drop’ in 1981.
Becoming a big crowd draw, Raven did what they do best, and hit the road, exemplified by their live album, ‘Live At The Inferno’, appeared in 1984, which cherry picks their biggest hitters from their early single and first three Neat Records albums.
Released by Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Records, this 3-disc set “Faster Than The Speed Of Light” compiles that 1984 live set, other from Japan 1995, and a covers album featuring Raven’s crazy versions of ‘Fireball’ (Deep Purple), ‘Bad Reputation’ (Thin Lizzy), ‘Ogre Battle’ (Queen) and any more…

In support of the album, they produced a video for the song Mystery Girl; the video’s director was Chuck Statler, who had directed videos for Devo. A review of Little Girls in Playboy Magazine described the band’s sound as reminiscent of The Who, The Yardbirds, and The Raspberries. While touring in support of Little Girls, the band were in a serious automobile accident outside of Brookings, South Dakota.
Procowitz broke his collarbone, Snow sustained shoulder injuries, and James escaped with minor injuries. They shared a flight home on a single-engine four-seater plane. The injuries left Crash Street Kids unable to play indefinitely…

When The Yardbirds croaked, up burst a BOX OF FROGS… this band was formed by three members of The Yardbirds – Chris Dreja, Paul Samwell-Smith, and Jim McCarty – but since there names are not Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page or Jeff Beck, most would not recognize their names on the same plaque as those other three mega-famous guitarists in The Yardbirds.
On June 23, 1983, as part of London’s historic Marquee Club’s 25th Anniversary celebrations, three original Yardbirds musicians found themselves together on stage again. This same venue had been a regular nightspot for the legendary guitar-based blues-rock band that was the springboard for the likes of Clapton, Beck and Page.
For Paul, Chris and Jim, the reunion made them realize they had to make more music in the Yardbirds’ tradition. They added the excellent British Lions’s John Fiddler on vocals to form the nucleus of the band.
While recording the debut LP, on Christmas Eve 1983, Jeff Beck joined them at a farmhouse south of London and added his unique touch to four of the tracks. As other old friends jumped into the sessions – including Rory Gallagher, British Lions’ Ray Majors, Jethro Tull’s Peter-John Vettese, Jeff Beck Band Max Middleton, and many more – the idea for the group’s curious new name came about: BOX OF FROGS.
Remastered by Cherry Red / Esoteric Recordings and with 2 bonus tracks, their 1984’s self-titled debut “Box Of Frogs” is a great slice bluesy Classic Rock with an ’80s mainstream AOR radio-friendly delivery, timeless rock ‘n roll in a feel-good vibe mood…

One of the most representative albums from the classy female fronted AOR / Melodic Rock golden era has been remastered by Rock Candy Records “No Bed Of Roses“, by IF ONLY, featuring superb vocalist Tina Egan. The reissue includes 5 bonus tracks where also the great Jackie Bodimead appears delivering her tremendous vocal pipes.
What we have is a classic slice of ’80s melodic rock / AOR which would have put the willies up many a US counterpart. It’s actually as good as any other girly bands output from the Eighties like Vixen, Witness etc. Opener ‘Loaded Gun’ is one of the finest melodic rock tracks you’ll witness in many a year, and if it was penned and performed by New Jersey era Bon Jovi you wouldn’t be in the least surprised. Great vocals, catchy chorus, huge riffs, it has all of what a great song should be…