Monthly Archive: December 2023

Originating from Swansea, Wales, UK, singer / songwriter CASEY MAUNDER has been part of several bands such as The Cherry Thieves, with whom he toured the UK. Frequently featured in such esteemed publications as Melody Maker and Kerrang, the band were influenced by L.A.’s Glam rock scene. The next chapter brought a new group, Four Stories High. Their sound, although inspired by Casey’s previous band, was a new, explorative progression. Again, a UK tour brought them to the attention of radio stations, including Welsh TV Slots, who then launched their single, ‘Another Day’, as a feature on a ‘Best Of UK’ compilation.
Becoming a solo artist in 2021, Casey’s signature sound features prominent classic rock&pop riffs, big choruses and melodic focus. That’s what you’ll hear on his solo album “Until Your Heart Stops Beating“.
The record – written & performed by Casey himself with the help of producer is James Weaver (who also play many instruments) is a delicious slice of poppy melodic rock with influences from the ’80s, ’90s and 2000’s. Think a mix of Waltham, Dion Bayman, 7th Heaven, late Nineties Harem Scarem… feel good rockers very well written and produced.
Hey, take a look at the cover art, Casey with his guitar and LP’s of David Lee Roth, Poison, Van Halen…

STRAY is a legendary English hard rock band formed in London in 1966. The group’s brand of melodic, hook-laden hard rock proved to be a popular draw on the local scene during the early 1970s. While STRAY did not have commercial success with its record releases, they toured with all the rock giants, performed at iconic Reading Festival, and are mentioned as influence by many major stars. It’s worth noting that no less an act than IRON MAIDEN covered the STRAY track ‘All In Your Mind’ as the B-side to the ‘Holy Smoke’ single.
After almost five decades rocking the world and a slew of acclaimed albums and classic rocking songs still faves on rock compilations down through the ages, founder guitarist Del Bromham keeps STRAY’s flame burning with the new album “About Time“.
“About Time” is a standout release packed with pile drivers counterpointed by slower numbers and as always, the dabs of heavy blues and prog that’s long hallmarked the eclectic nature of the band’s output.
This is Classic Rock plenty of timeless guitar riffs, wah wah and melodic solos. Add to that gorgeous clean vocals and a wonderful keyboard / Hammond work reminiscent of Deep Purple, Rainbow and even Uriah Heep…

Swedes KATATONIA have been around for over 30 years now. Honestly, we didn’t liked much their early sound and style, but this is one of the few bands from the scene that has been able to change / morph their sound over the years trying to offer something new.
Now KATATONIA 2023 is a mature, elaborated 5-piece of intelligent progressive metal, melodic, focused band as evidenced on their album “Sky Void Of Stars“. Short songs but complex, imaginative, only 50 minutes to express a variety of emotions and excellent musical ideas.
Katatonia, no matter their focus, have always been dark, melancholic metal, but no less melodious and intriguing. “Sky Void Of Stars” is all that, and much more.
There is truly no other band like Katatonia. “Sky Void Of Stars” takes you on an unforgettable journey to the depths of melancholia and far beyond. This is, of course, a dark album, but it shines at times with the brilliance of a supernova. Each song is self-contained and wholly unique, with all 10 tracks (plus a bonus in this Limited Mediabook Edition) still stringing together seamlessly. The unreal sense of atmosphere will keep you hooked all the way through…

As requested, here’s the Universal Music Japan recent 2021 release (already sold out) of THE POLICE 1986’s “Every Breath You Take (The Singles)“, pressed on high-resolution CD (MQA-CD+UHQCD) transferred from the DSD master based on British original analog tape. The outer jackets + inner sleeve reproduces the UK first edition LP, while the OBI replicates the design of the Japanese first edition.
“Every Breath You Take (The Singles)” has to be one of the best ‘true’ Greatest Hits collections ever released. The Police weren’t the most prolific group ever, but every song here was a genuine hit and most of them are still considered rock&pop classics 40 years on.
There may have been more comprehensive The Police compilations / box sets issued since 1986, but they’d be hard pressed to sound as good as this…

As requested by many, here’s KISS “Smashes, Thrashes & Hits” released as part of the ‘best of 2020 series’ made by Universal Music Japan on a High Resolution disc (MQA-CD + UHQCD) DSD master based on US original analog tape converted to 352.8kHz / 24bit.
At the time of its original release (1988) this was the fourth KISS hits album overall but the second released by the band in the United States (‘Killers’ and ‘Chikara’ were not released in America).
Of the 15 songs on the album, two were new compositions, and three were released after the band’s unmasking in 1983. The remaining 10 were all released during the band’s years in make-up, and most of them, ‘remixed 1988’, which generated some controversy.
It was 1988, and ‘gated reverb’ ruled. While some may hate how i.e. ‘Love Gun’, ‘Deuce’ or ‘Calling Dr. Love’ sound here (so Eightiesized), I really like it. And there was a reason for it…

This rarity was requested by many; KISS Japanese-only release disc “Chikara“. Chikara (Japanese for “power”) was released on CD only in Japan in support of KISS’ 1988 Japanese tour.
The CD includes the band’s classics, many with different mixes and a picture sleeve featuring each band member in the the letters of the KISS logo.
Exclusive to the Japanese market, the release of “Chikara” was limited to 100,000 copies and has long been out of print. One item of note is that this was the only official compact disc release of the extended 12″ single version of the classic “I Was Made For Lovin’ You” (also known as Dance Remix), until it was featured as B-side into the already now rare ‘Psycho Circus’ CDsingle in 1998. This track alone makes this disc a must have for the true KISS fan…

Someone asked for the best sounding pressing of KISS album “Asylum“, and this Japan pressing on SHM-CD in a Cardboard Sleeve mini-LP replica, remastered, is the answer. This is a Nineties remastering, that meaning not too much louder, more balanced and works great in your Hi-Fi rack.
However, there’s a more recent remaster of “Asylum” especially done for iTunes = digital files. And it sounds fantastic, colorful, punchy.
So our advice is: SHM-CD is excellent for all purposes especially your hi-end player, but if you need “Asylum” for you car, phone, etc, get the ‘iTunes remaster‘ – it’s a killer version. Or get both, and compare.
Regarding the music of “Asylum”… this album just gets better and better with age: it’s the perfect blend of classic KISS catchiness with a healthy dose of mid-80s Glam Metal sheen. Guitarist Bruce Kulick proved here to be the missing link that KISS needed in 1985, allowing for a more focused, precision metal attack to go along with the addictive melodic hooks…

When you get incredible singer Terry Brock (Strangeways, Giant), guitarist Gary Pihl (Sammy Hagar, Boston), vocalist / bassist Robert Berry (Hush, Alliance) and drummer Matt Starr (Mr. Big, Ace Frehley) together to pool forces, the result only could be outstanding: that’s what happens with ALL 41 and their awesome Melodic Rock / AOR debut album “The World’s Best Hope”. Be prepared for a set of smooth, immensely hummable melodious songs that’s low on ostentation yet sky-high in the quality department.
These guys gelled very well musically and they came up with a superb album which mixes Mr Big’s most melodic moments, some Danger Danger, together with keyboard-laden layers and stellar AOR vocals shared by Brock / Berry with obvious resemblances to Strangeways and Alliance.
All 41 loads up on all the essential Melodic Rock / AOR elements: infectious melody in song composition, harmony in guitar lines and vocal arrangements, toe-tapping rhythm and groove from bass & drums, sweet and soaring guitar solos, hooks in melodies and refrains, and strong clean vocals.
Yeah, this is classy stuff of the highest order…

The debut album “Feel The Shake” from hard rockers JETBOY in its ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ version by Rock Candy Records has been requested, a really good but sadly overlooked LP appeared in year when the competition for this style – dominated by Guns N’ Roses – was really hard.
Imagine being a young rock fan caught up in all the late ’80s Metal scene had to offer. You were looking for something different, something that wasn’t cookie-cutter or homogenized. While scanning the racks at your local record store you stumble upon an album from a brand new band that had a name taken from a New York Dolls song, a lead singer with a gigantic mohawk, a bass player snatched from Hanoi Rocks and an album title called “Feel The Shake”.
Lawd have mercy, I couldn’t pull my wallet out fast enough to purchase this LP the first time I saw it.
Appeared few months after G N’ R’s debut, “Feel The Shake” is equally good and rocks in the same sleazy manner. Unfortunately, like all bands that were signed to MCA at the time (Femme Fatale, Pretty Boy Floyd, Blue Tears, etc) Jetboy was screwed over huge by the recording label.
In the year of 1988, Jetboy should have became household names but instead are now one of the most underrated bands to ever come out of the whole Californian scene…

CHEETAH were an Australian rock band formed in 1976 in Melbourne, by the English-born sisters Chrissie and Lyndsay Hammond. Starting their music careers as session vocalists, they appeared on many Australian albums and stage productions / musicals.
CHEETAH put out some singles in the late Seventies, but it wasn’t until Producers Vanda & Young (George Young, older bro of AC/DC founders) made a deal with the Hammond sisters to turn CHEETAH into a female-fronted hard rock act.
Their highly successful debut album, 1982’s “Rock & Roll Women“, yielded a string of singles that lead CHEETAH tour across Australia, the UK and continental Europe including appearances at Roskilde in Holland, the Nuremburg and Weisbaden Festivals in Germany and a show at the 1982 Reading Festival with Iron Maiden to an audience of 120,000 people.
While in the same league of Wilson sisters Heart, CHEETAH’s “Rock & Roll Women” is much more hard rocking, with both Chrissie & Lyndsay sporting tremendous, booming hard rock voices.
This is the first official reissue on CD done by Bad Reputation specialists, remastered and including as bonus track a standalone single from 1981.
“Rock & Roll Women” rocks, and rocks hard…

Cult AOR band HEAD EAST is back and better than ever with the highly anticipated release of “Full Circle,” their first studio album in over 40 years. Widely recognized for their classic rock radio staple / anthem “Never Been Any Reason,” Head East has maintained a prominent presence in the music scene through electrifying live performances and outstanding live recordings, cultivating a dedicated fan base that spans generations.
But now the band has taken the long-awaited step back into the studio for a series of recordings for their new album ”Full Circle”.
“Full Circle” not only marks Head East’s return to the studio but also serves as a musical retrospective, revisiting iconic moments from their ‘70s albums including their seminal 1975 debut LP ‘Flat As A Pancake’. These new versions of “Never Been Any Reason” and “If You Knew Me Better” retain the magic of Head East’s early days, enriched by the wisdom and artistry that only time and experience can bring.
Early Journey, Roadmaster, REO Speedwagon, even some Styx are the reference here, all very enjoyable…

After the recent request of HEAD EAST remastered albums, one of you asked for their celebrated “Live!“, one of the band’s best selling records, superbly Remastered & Reloaded by Rock Candy Records.
Hailing from Illinois, Head East were one of a number of melodic hard rock bands that enjoyed great success in the Midwest of America whilst barely registering a blip on the East and West coasts. During the late Seventies however, it wasn’t uncommon to whisper their name in the same hallowed company as heavy hitters such as Kansas, Styx, Cheap Trick and REO Speedwagon.
“Head East Live!” featured tracks taken from their four previous studio albums and breathed new life into their sound, whilst reminding us of their uncompromising approach to performance. This is some kind of their Greatest Hits, all infectious tunes with melody and rich harmonies.
This is a v ery good 24-bit remastering from source tapes, 3,500 word essay about the making of the album, new interview with singer John Schlitt (later Petra’s vocalist), and enhanced artwork and photos spread out over a 12 page full color booklet.

Celebrating their new studio album in four decades, here’s the hard to find, out of print 2-in-1 remastered reissue of HEAD EAST‘s “Gettin’ Lucky / Head East” albums. Hailing from the US Midwest and featuring future Petra lead vocalist John Schlitt, Head East was one of the more popular bands from the area back in the day, resulting in a record contract with A&M Records.
The self-titled “Head East” (also known as “The Roadsign Album“) is their 4th studio LP, which produced the band’s highest-charting single, a cover of the Russ Ballard song ‘Since You Been Gone’ (later covered by Rainbow as well).
Hot on the heels of the successful Gettin’ Lucky, Head East recorded its follow up “Head East”. A more rocking, catchy, punchy sonic approach was planned for this new effort, with Angel (Giuffria), Roadmaster, Charlie, Harlequin, or the upcoming Journey taking as reference.
There’s a killer start with ‘Open Up The Door’, a sexy rocker on ‘Man I Wanna Be’, and a sweet guitar / keyboard interplay on ‘Nothing To Lose’ adorned with really good harmony vocals.

Celebrating their new studio album in four decades, here’s the hard to find, out of print 2-in-1 remastered reissue of HEAD EAST‘s “Gettin’ Lucky / Head East” albums.
Hailing from the US Midwest and featuring future Petra lead vocalist John Schlitt, Head East was one of the more popular bands from the area back in the day, resulting in a record contract with A&M Records.
“Gettin’ Lucky” is their 3rd studio album, and one of their most renowned releases.
Mixing commercial melodic rock with radio-friendly poppy melodies and a touch of proto Pomp AOR, Head East open the album with the joyful title track.
‘Back In My Own Hands’ add acoustics to the mix, but also pompy keyboards and a sound slightly reminiscent to Shooting Star. ‘Show Me I’m Alive’ is very FM radio oriented yet with little progressive touches…

Right from the moment a certain band from Birmingham adopted the title of the 1963 Boris Karloff movie Black Sabbath as their name, metal has gone hand in hand with horror.
The hottest rising horror metal band in recent years, DOMINUM, will release their debut album, “Hey Living People“, on December 29, 2023. Led by songwriter and producer Felix Heldt (Visions Of Atlantis and more) on vocals in the character of Dr. Dead, the band takes the living into the world of the undead – telling stories of zombies, survival and insatiable hunger for more, creating their own intense and captivating reality.
While marketed as ‘melodic power metal’, “Hey Living People” is in fact modern melodic hard rock / pop with an anthemic delivery and a strong ’80s feeling. As a proof, they offer here a cover of 1985’s Dead Or Alive synth-pop classic ‘You Spin Me Round’, and 1987’s Midnight Oil hit ‘Beds Are Burning’.
Catchier than a zombie plague but twice as much fun, curtain raiser “Immortalis Dominum” opens with ’80s synthwave keyboards and boasts the first of many ridiculously infectious choruses…