CONTAGIOUS – The Calling + 4 [Deluxe Version] (2015)

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This month Z Records is reissuing a bunch a really good albums long time out of print, and perhaps the more ‘obscure’ and unknown for Melodic Hard Rock fans it’s this one and only album from CONTAGIOUS titled “The Calling“, originally released in 2001.
To make it even more interesting, in this Deluxe Version reissue they have added 4 bonus tracks, including the EP recorded by Contagious in 2000 for promotion only.

CONTAGIOUS is Melodic Hard Rock, with strong guitar riffs, keyboard stabs and a potent rhythm section. All members in this British band had already enjoyed a lengthy run prior to signing with Z Records.
During 2000 the band’s label would hastily convene a version of the band to perform at the Wigan Z Rock festival. Joining regular members guitarist Tony Marshall (Vaughn, Pride) and bassist Paul Sidebotham for this one off performance would be the American guitarist Danni Danzi, lead vocalist Steve Kenny, ex-Tygers Of Pang Tang, Waysted and TEN keyboard player Ged Ryland and drummer Chris Wright.
Cathedral drummer Brian Dixon had been involved in the formative stages although his commitments to band forced him out of the picture.

Before the full length debut, the EP ‘Red, White And Slightly Blue’ would act as a useful taster. By this juncture CONTAGIOUS added to the line up Armaggedon members singer Glenn Watmough and keyboard player Johnny Larson.
Shows in the UK to promote the record included a launch party at the salubrious venue of Maximes in Wigan. Later dates saw appearances at the ‘Z Rock 2001’ festival and gigs supporting Von Groove and Vaughn.
CONTAGIOUS hit their stride in 2002 on the live circuit presenting “The Calling”, putting in valuable support slots early in the year to Bonfire, Mike Tramp and Toby Jepson.
As you see, this is a very good band with great songs, otherwise these major acts would not give the ok to support them.

Musically, “The Calling” is Melodic Hard Rock with a classic British sound, mostly driven by Tony Marshall’s riffs, but also including keyboards into the mix and all wrapped by a melodic, polished output.
Harder songs like the racing opener ‘Hear It Calling’, the Dokken-ish ‘Time and Again’ (love those keys!), ‘Lady’, ‘Flying High’ or ‘Dreams’ are mixed with melodic rockers in the catchy ‘Lost and Lonely’, the melodious ‘Suzi Ann’, the Americanized midtempo ‘Outta Time’ (a little AORish), and the very classy ballad ‘Love and Always’.

Perhaps due the fact this was a ‘label project’ brought alive by Z Records, and after a year they disbanded (Tony Marshall would join ex-Tyketto Danny Vaughn’s touring band, and later enrolled into the ranks of Pride) CONTAGIOUS and this album are pretty unknown for most Melodic Hard Rock Fans.
So this is a great idea by Z Records to resurrect this very good record and to add the unheard, previously officially unreleased EP recorded by the band.
An underrated release and an unknown band, worthly to be discovered.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

01 – Hear It Calling
02 – Time and Again
03 – Lady
04 – Lost and Lonely
05 – Love and Always
06 – Suzi Ann
07 – Flying High
08 – Outta Time
09 – Fantasy
10 – Dreams
11 – Danger [prev. unreleased] (bonus track)
12 – Find a Way [prev. unreleased] (bonus track)
13 – Take Me Higher [prev. unreleased] (bonus track)
14 – Muscle [prev. unreleased] (bonus track)

Glenn Watmough: Vocals
Tony Marshall: Guitar
Pete: Guitar
Paul Sidebotham: Bass
Johnny Larson: Keyboards
Norman: Drums

BUY IT !
www.amazon.co.uk/Calling-4-Deluxe-Version/dp/B013GPT826
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