STEPH HONDE – Born Again (2026) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

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STEPH HONDE, the awesome singer/guitarist from France who has worked with Paul Di’Anno, Don Airey, Jim Crean, the Appice brothers and especially Alice Cooper’s Hollywood Monsters, is a man of varied musical tastes. But his heart belongs to 70s & 80s hard rock. In fact, some time ago he recorded a covers album of Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, Kansas, etc, classics.
Now Honde is releasing a new solo album, “Born Again“, recorded alongside an exceptional lineup of world-class musicians like the awesome John Macaluso (TNT, Yngwie) on drums, Barend Courbois (Michael Schenker Group) on bass, Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) on keyboards, Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, David Gilmour) on bass, and more.
Their collective musicianship elevates the album into a rich and compelling body of work that bridges classic hard rock, progressive influences, and contemporary songwriting. A wonderful combination of soaring melodies, dynamic musicianship and timeless rock influences.

”Born Again” marks Steph Honde’s first album release with Golden Robot Records and is a 12-track body of work that can be experienced as a complete piece of art, with virtually no musical boundaries. From its opening moments, where ambient waves create the sensation of entering a vast ocean, the album immediately draws the listener into its world.

Honde is a really good vocalist, and musically his songs avoid common places, always rocking but far from ordinary. There’s elaborated arrangements and melodic progressive twist, not forgetting the hooks, and the nerve on the more rocking pieces.
The album opens with “Thoughts”, a six‑minute piece that immediately signals Honde’s refusal to confine himself to the traditional verse‑chorus mold. “Back and Forth” pushes this ambition even further across eight expansive minutes, before “Drown”—the first single—pulls the record back toward a concise and immediate rocker.
The title track, “Born Again”, naturally stands as one of the album’s focal points. Stretching beyond seven minutes, Honde patiently builds the song, weaving ethereal melodies with a commanding rhythm section.

With “Bag of Lies”, Honde reconnects with his more straightforward rock side, while “The Dark” and “The Stars Are With Us” sustain the interplay of shadow and light that permeates much of the record.
Perhaps most revealing are “LA 2014” and “Hollyweird”, which speak directly to the man behind the music. Los Angeles remains etched into his story—it was there, in 2013, that he co-founded Hollywood Monsters and collaborated with legends like Don Airey, Vinny Appice, and Tim “Ripper” Owens. Born Again often feels like a reflection on that era, with its dreams, excesses, and inevitable disillusionments.

Then comes “Dark Secrets”, the album’s most ambitious composition and the clearest expression of Honde’s progressive leanings. Finally, the brief “In This House” sets the stage for “Everything Is Falling Into Place”, a nearly seven‑minute closer whose title perfectly encapsulates the album’s overarching mood.

The album is deeply connected to Honde’s experiences during his time in Los Angeles between 2010 and 2015, capturing a period of musical exploration, creativity and collaboration. ”Born Again” is not simply a collection of songs, but a journey through Honde’s artistic experiences, influences and evolution.
The musicians involved deliver some terrific performances, it’s always a pleasure to hear Macaluso’s expansive heavy drumming and Derek Sherinian’s class ivory.
HIGHLY Recommended

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01 – Thoughts
02 – Back and Forth
03 – Drown
04 – Born Again
05 – Bag of Lies
06 – The Dark
07 – The Stars Are With Us
08 – L.A. 2014
09 – Hollyweird
10 – Dark Secrets
11 – In This House
12 – Everything is Falling into Place

Steph Honde (Hollywood Monsters) – vocals, guitar, keyboards
John Macaluso (Ark, Yngwie Malmsteen) – drums
Guy Pratt (Pink Floyd, David Gilmour) – bass
Barend Courbois (Michael Schenker Group) – bass
Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater) – keyboards
Lio Desblache (guitar)

 

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