Monthly Archive: February 2025

After celebrating their debut album with a deluxe edition last year, BON JOVI will offer similar treatment to their biggest album: 1986’s Slippery When Wet. The New Jersey rockers’ third LP it’s being reissued as ”Slippery When Wet [Deluxe Edition]” in a variety of formats including a 2-CD expansion with rare and unreleased tracks.
The album, featuring Bon Jovi classics such as “Livin’ On A Prayer,” “You Give Love A Bad Name,” “Wanted Dead or Alive” and more, is certified Diamond and one of the top 100 best-selling U.S. albums of all time.
This new deluxe edition is enhanced by the acoustic version of “Wanted Dead Or Alive,” an extended new mix of “Livin’ On A Prayer” as heard in the band’s documentary, and a set of raw, dynamite live tracks from the record-breaking Slippery When Wet tour, previously unreleased…

“Big Hits: Rick SPRINGFIELD’S Greatest Hits Vol. 2” is special new collection from RICK SPRINGFIELD focusing on the previous two decades of his career, showcasing Springfield’s commitment to his craft well after his commercial peak of the 1970s to early ’80s.
The CD, packing 24 tracks – Rick really knows how to write an effective 3-minute song – also includes rarities, unreleased material, and his brand new single “Lose Myself”. Other key tracks featured on the set include an updated recording of “Jessie’s Girl,” a studio version of a longtime fan favorite titled “Who Killed Rock & Roll,” the song “The Man That Never Was” with Foo Fighters (originally featured on Sound City: Real to Reel, the soundtrack to the 2013 documentary from Grohl on the famed Los Angeles studio) and more…

Italian metal band RISEN CROW are relatively new players in the game (formed in late 2020), but certainly it doesn’t show in their supercharged debut album “Requiem For A Damned Love.” Following many of their contemporaries by using a blend of singalong male and female vocals, they slot very nicely into this unique niche. This is the kind of modern rock music that will enthrall and engage a live audience the whole world over.
The duo of Antonella Della Monica and Claudio Vattone creates a compelling vocal partnership, choosing to complement rather than compete with each other. Musically, rather than embracing the typical power metal approach of excessive speed and piercing vocals, the album leans toward melodic metal, resulting in a more accessible listening experience.
The band’s distinctive sound is shaped by Alessandro Bernabei’s keyboard work, supported by the dual guitar expertise of Giuseppe Longo and Francesco Menale, along with the solid rhythm section of drummer Filippo Martini and bassist Flavio Cicchetti…

Hailing from the UK, HEAVEN’S REIGN is a powerhouse of classic hard rock energy deeply inspired by the golden era of rock and roll. Formed by experienced musicians, three members including vocalist Rik Cayton have been together for years in the band Rollin’ Thunder sharing stages with legends like Bryan Adams, Blue Öyster Cult, UFO, cementing their reputation for electrifying shows. They’ve also been featured on major radio stations like BBC Radio One and highlighted in renowned publications such as Total & Classic Rock magazine.
“Northern Lights” is their debut album, and what a great first offering! With a glossy Eighties-like production this album is overflowing with so many melodic anthems that it comes across like a ‘Best of’ album from a band you never heard before.
Since opener ”City Sights” you get hooked:. sirens, a pumping bass line, a powerful clean lead voice, and guitar arpeggios reminiscent of Harem Scarem lead you to a chorus that conveys old school ’80s Journey. A Top 10 track of the year for sure… and we’re just getting started…

From the Sunset Strip fronting LOVE/HATE to stages worldwide, JIZZY PEARL has made his mark on rock history, selling over 600,000 albums and sharing the stage with AC/DC, OZZY OSBOURNE, SKID ROW and DIO. He currently sings for QUIET RIOT and has recorded and toured with RATT and L.A. GUNS.
Now, he delivers a powerhouse collection of songs under the banner JIZZY PEARL’s LOVE/HATE, capturing the fire and energy of no-frills rock ‘n’ roll – it’s “Punk Rock Fiesta!”
Energetic, punchy, catchy are some proper words for “Punk Rock Fiesta!”. Jizzy Pearl still has enough weapons in his song arsenal to remain as relevant as he ever has and still cool enough to carry it all off in some style. And that is surely a cause for celebration…

Marking the 40th anniversary of the legendary ACCEPT album ‘Balls To The Wall’, former frontman and founder Udo DIRKSCHNEIDER has reimagined this iconic record in a powerful new version, featuring an array of renowned guest artists from the global rock and metal scene.
This project was inspired by countless conversations with fans and musicians, all urging Udo to celebrate the album’s milestone. Among the renowned musicians involved we find Biff Byford of SAXON, Nils Molin of DYNAZTY, Michael Kiske of HELLOWEEN, Dee Snider of TWISTED SISTER, and more.
This re-recorded edition “Balls To The Wall Reloaded” breathes new life into these classic tracks, highlighting their enduring legacy and influence. This star-studded tribute isn’t just a revival; it’s a celebration of Balls To The Wall as a timeless cornerstone of heavy metal history. Prepare for an unparalleled musical journey that bridges generations and keeps the spirit of this masterpiece alive…

Leading rock and metal force AVANTASIA is set to unleash their bombastic 10th studio album and Napalm Records debut, ”Here Be Dragons”, on February 28, 2025. Featuring absolute AVANTASIA essentials such as spellbinding choirs and theatrical symphonic metal elements, multitalented mastermind, and frontman Tobias Sammet also surprises fans old and new with plenty of intriguing fresh soundscapes.
”Here Be Dragons” gives the celebrated AVANTASIA sound that has been carefully crafted over a quarter of a century an exciting and powerful spin. The new album is the most consistent and concise piece of art that the band has ever crafted.
Masterminded by talented Tobias Sammet and Sascha Paeth, they recruited again impressive vocalists for this new opus; Bob Catley (Magnum), Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Kenny Leckremo (H.E.A.T), Michael Kiske (Helloween), Geoff Tate (ex-Queensryche), and more.
AVANTASIA is not showing any signs of slowing down – soon after the release of ”Here Be Dragons”, the band will head out on an extensive arena tour across Europe, promising to deliver fans an immersive experience with their biggest and most epic production ever…

Frontiers Music will release the upcoming album of legendary hard rock vocalist ROBIN McAULEY, his new solo album entitled ”Soulbound”. This new album sees McAULEY‘s voice continuing to defy time, sounding as inspired and powerful as ever.
The new album is definitively more guitar-driven straight hard rock compared to his previous works with the label and is still wonderfully melodic, infectious, and fist-in-the-air uplifting. ”Soulbound” showcases the respected Irish rock singer’s desire to make a strong musical statement in what is proving to be his most creative period.
Work for ”Soulbound” began in early 2024, following an intense musical period in between tour dates and studio work. With a slightly different production approach, more edgy and guitar-driven, Robin’s vocal performance here is simply outstanding.
Truly an iconic voice of the genre, ”Soulbound” solidly delivers the more hard and heavy aspects of this respected artist…

Swedish melodic rock powerhouse PERFECT PLAN are ready to release their new effort “Heart Of A Lion“, with songs marking their triumphant return to their signature AOR sound, produced in collaboration with Mårten Eriksson.
With their previous album PERFECT PLAN wanted to discover a new heavier and ‘in your face’ sound but on this 2025 CD they are back to the style of the first 2 albums, with more keyboards and bigger sound taking you back to the 80s with a modern touch and feel.
The anthemic track ‘Heart Of A Lion’ draws inspiration from Swedish football legend Zlatan Ibrahimovic, celebrating his remarkable journey and indomitable spirit.
This is simply one of the best melodic rock / AOR platter you’ll hear this year, no doubt about it…

PHIL VINCENT‘s new offering “Backstabber” comes hot on the heels of album 26, Master of Deception. But the man that never seems to sleep, refuses to lower the bar and keeps delivering his trademark heavy rock with massive hooks and tons of melody.
Personal loss and experiences helped shape this album, as did the cover versions of ‘Do It Good’ (by the late John Sykes) and ‘Theme from a Summer Place’, written by Max Steiner. So while the musical palette is varied, the punch is still delivered where it counts. Usual suspects Vince O’Regan (guitar solos) and Jacob Hansen (mastering) stay present. The ‘one man band machine’ that is Phil Vincent, keeps rocking like there is no tomorrow.
Reaching 3 decades as solo artist, Phil’s voice depicts a mature hard rocker with a tendency in passionate / moody singing. The guitar work follows the same guidelines, sharp riffs from the Dokken school and clean solos (and good ones) by long time partner O’Regan.
While on recent solo records Vince added a couple of progressive twists, “Backstabber” is mostly about timeless hard rock. Only the classic rock feeling of ‘Thanks to You’ provides a slower moment midway the album, the rest rocks hard with melody.
Thirty years into a solo career and Phil Vincent still pens strong and catchy melodic hard rock tunes, has perfected his self-managed production, and finally his albums sport fine cover art!

A year after their very well received debut, TIMSON AOR are back with their second album, properly titled ”The Next Level”. Indeed, this duo’s love for the ’80s sound of the genre is augmented and perfected on this sophomore effort.
The 11 songs deliver everything we love about AOR and Melodic Rock – soaring melodies, stellar production, and songs / choruses that just wouldn’t leave your head. Regarding this beloved genre, this is an absolute triumph.
It’s rare to find an album that is truly perfect in its goal, but ”The Next Level” is exactly that. If you buy only one album this year, make it this one. AOR / Melodic Rock fans, you simply cannot afford to miss out on this absolute gem. Even the artwork is stunning – a fiery phoenix rising between dark city buildings, perfectly capturing the spirit of the music.
That unique Eighties AOR sound belongs to that era, these were major productions with many people involved polishing things to detail from production and A&R to songwriting & arrangements – and it’s almost impossible to recreate again.
However Timson AOR comes close on ”The Next Level” – just two talented musicians and their love for classic AOR. And they have done a remarkable job here…

We’re focused on melodic hard rock / AOR / Metal, however basically we love all about ’80s music. Recently many of you have been requesting more rock&pop / lite AOR stuff like Boy Meets Girl, RAD soundtrack, etc, and if you like this type of sound you can’t miss SHELL AND THE OCEAN.
This German band fronted by impressive female vocalist ‘Cyra’ (real name Heike Barth) managed to make a deal with major label EMI Electrola for their debut album titled “Turn Blue“, released 1989.
Despite the obvious focus on radio and dance floor, musically SHELL AND THE OCEAN were much more than a pop-rock act. Cyra’s terrific voice could have graced any melodic hard rock band from the era, and there’s multi-layered harmonies, elegant keyboards, and some really good guitar work all over the 10 tracks on “Turn Blue”.
Specifically speaking of musical sub-genre, “Turn Blue” fits much more the Lite AOR / Hi-Tech AOR slot than pop-rock. Fans of this style will love songs like the fantastic ‘Desire’, ‘Imprisoned By Emotion’, ‘We Own The Night’, etc.
As extras we added the hard to find 1991 single SHELL AND THE OCEAN released before disbanding, plus many other rare remixes, 7” / 12” single versions, and more.
As said, not only for fans of this sub-genre – female fronted melodic rock and ’80s music aficionados in general will find a lot to enjoy in “Turn Blue”…

To get a real glimpse of how amazingly ZZ TOP rocks live, you need to hear this release “Preliminator 1980“. Captured at the Capitol Theatre in Passaic, New Jersey, during the East Coast leg of their 1980 tour, this show included a mix of new material at the time and older classics.
While this is an unofficial release, sound quality is very good, as the concert was professionally recorded for radio broadcast on classic rock radio WNEW-FM, but also for the King Biscuit Flower Hour show.
Revitalized after a two-year hiatus, in November 1979 ZZ Top released the Platinum-selling ‘Degüello’ album and launched their ‘Expect No Quarter tour’, which saw Billy Gibbons and Dusty Hill debut their chest-length beards.
The superb show featured here finds them on fiery form as they tear through a selection of new and older songs. It’s hard to find anything bad to say about the rip-roaring takes on classic songs such as ‘Cheap Sunglasses’ or ‘I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide’. The recording encapsulates ZZ Top in their young, hungry prime in all its glory…

After our recent ZZ TOP post of their album ‘Afterburner’ on SHM-CD, a reader commented: ”Do you happen to have the SHM ‘Eliminator’ to go with, as you can’t have one classic without the other!” And he’s right. However, and while “Eliminator” pressing on SHM-CD sounds fine, this ”ZZ TOP – Eliminator [Warner Bros digipak Collector’s Edition remastered +7]” is much, much better in sound quality – and you have some really good bonuses.
So here’s ZZ TOP defining, stairway to popularity album “Eliminator” in its Warner Brothers Records digipak Collector’s Edition release featuring a remastered version of the original LP, along with a bunch of bonus tracks (some previously unreleased) and a juicy 20-page booklet with new liner notes.
To many people “Eliminator” was a desperate act to keep their head above water in a raising MTV era, to others, a total sell-out. Truth is ZZ Top’s eighth album, released in 1983 (13 years after their debut), is their biggest-selling album to date, and make ’em super-stars. And folks, it’s full of awesome songs.
Logging in at well over two years on the charts and spawning five singles — “Got Me Under Pressure,” “Gimme All Your Lovin’, “Sharp Dressed Man,” “Legs” and “TV Dinners” — the wacky trio really found their sea-legs when it came to projecting their music via a fairly new medium to a brand new audience — music video for the MTV generation.
I used to think album tracks like “I Need You Tonight” and “Thug” were listless fillers — until I heard them brightened up on this remaster. When you add in live versions —  recorded at Castle Donington & The Marquee, England — of six of the album’s tracks, it becomes obvious that ”Eliminator” was a masterstroke of Gibbon’s blue-plate specialty riffs, driven by the steady rhythm section of Hill and Beard, creating an infectious sound that goes down heartily.

I used to think album tracks like “I Need You Tonight” and “Thug” were listless fillers — until I heard them brightened up on this remaster…

Famed ZZ Top guitarist / vocalist BILLY F. GIBBONS and his side project band the BFGs are presenting a new album “Cruising with Billy F. Gibbons“. The release include his new single, “Livin’ It Up Down in Texas,” previewed in the hit Paramount+ series ‘Landman’. Gibbons co-wrote the tune with the show’s actors Billy Bob Thornton and Mark Collie.
“Livin’ It Up Down in Texas” is the first recording featuring current BFGs line up with Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame drummer Chris ‘Whipper’ Layton who was inducted with Stevie Ray Vaughan & Double Trouble. On bass and keyboards is Mike ‘The Drifter’ Flanigan, who plays regularly with Jimmie Vaughan. Gibbons, Layton and Flanigan all were born and raised in Texas with strong roots in the blues.
And yes, “Cruising with Billy F. Gibbons” is a pure rockin’ blues album with a Texan mojo all over it. Alongside the new song here’s also previous Gibbons BFGs songs, all rocking lively, with Gibbons delivering his own unique style of guitar playing of finger slides, plus pinched harmonies with blues phrasing – a cool combination that he has perfected. His gritty deep baritone voice is perfect for the blues and despite Billy’s age, still are strong…