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Melodic Rock, AOR, Hard Rock, Prog, Classic Rock news

Category: REMASTER

REMASTER / SAXON / SHM-CD

SAXON – Innocence Is No Excuse [SHM-CD mini-LP remastered +7] (2025) HQ *Exclusive*

Remastered and including seven bonus tracks, Ｍａｒｑｕｅｅ ／ Ａｖａｌｏｎ Japan just reissued SAXON 1985’s album ‘Innocence Is No Excuse‘ on SHM-CD, a Paper Sleeve mini-LP replica from the original vinyl pressing. It uses the latest remastering, however this SHM-CD has a more defined bottom end.
”Innocence Is No Excuse” is Saxon’s major-label debut, their first album under EMI / Parlophone. Produced by Simon Hanhart, 1985’s Innocence was a controversial reinvention of the band’s style. It has a very commercial sound: smooth chorused guitars, gated drums and extra keyboards. And the band put a pop-metal spin on their material too. The opening track, the moody and windswept Rockin’ Again sets the stall out clearly: this is not going to be your typical Saxon album.
With Byford and Dawson hogging the writing chores, the focus is firmly on melodies and anthems. The glossy production with the guitars and their crystalline sustain, the fat bass lines and drums echo louder than ever, enhanced the best written pack of songs included into a Saxon album since its foundation. It’s a vast sound that increases the scope and atmosphere. At the forefront, Byford’s lead vocals are not only more fine-tuned, but they’re actually singing catchy choruses.
From the cryptic opening of “Rockin’ Again” to the cheerful “Back On The Streets” and to the spirited “Everybody Up” (used in the 1985 Italian horror movie Demoni), this is like listening to a re-invigorated band…

GIANT / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

GIANT – Last Of The Runaways [Rock Candy remaster] *HQ EXCLUSIVE*

Founded by session master Dann Huff, GIANT‘s origins featured the who who’s from the melodic hard rock / AOR scene into the line-up, until the band finally got a record deal comprising these ‘cats’: Dann’s brother David (White Heart, David and the Giants, etc.) on drums, bassist Mike Brignardello (Van Zant, Mitch Malloy) and Alan Pasqua (Eddie Money, Van Stephenson, Rick Springfield, Stan Bush, etc.) on keyboards.
Driven by Dann’s melodic quality and outstanding vocals and riffs, “Last Of The Runaways” is pure 1989 AOR / MR: pristine production and sound design.
Many may argue GIANT’s first album “Last Of The Runaways” already sounded good in its original release: indeed, it was marvelously produced and the original CD sounds good. Also the Bad Reputation remaster is very good.
However this fresh Rock Candy Records remaster has something special, the whole record feels ‘airy’, like a pristine quality vinyl LP brand new.
It was 1989, it was the golden year for Melodic Hard Rock / AOR polished productions, it has some of the best musicians from the genre ever… do you need more reasons?
Giant’s “Last Of The Runaways” is a MANDATORY piece in your collection.

JAGGED EDGE / REMASTER

JAGGED EDGE – Fuel For Your Soul + Trouble +10 [Bad Reputation 2xCD Remastered] (2021) *HQ*

As requested, here’s the Bad Reputation records digitally remastered 2-CD re-issue of JAGGED EDGE‘s two albums Fuel For Your Soul + Trouble plus 10 bonus tracks.
JAGGED EDGE first came together in 1987 masterminded by guitarist Mike Gray after his split from Dorian Gray. After a few different line-up and demos, Myke Gray retained the Jagged Edge name and linked up with Sanctuary management. Gray recruited Italian drummer Fabio del Rio (Bruce Dickinson) and ex-Tokyo Blade bassist Andy Robbins plus Swedish singer Matti Alfonzetti (Bam Bam Boys, Skintrade).
They first released a five track EP “Trouble” in 1990 followed by their full debut “Fuel For Your Soul” in the same year. The debut album (produced by Jeff Glixman of Kansas fame) is a clear winner for fans of Whitesnake and early Thunder.
As usual, the Bad reputation release is excellent compiling all the JAGGED EDGE (wich later changed to JAGGED EDGE UK as there was a US rap band with that name) material from the era, fully remastered…

BRUCE DICKINSON / REMASTER

BRUCE DICKINSON – More Balls To Picasso (Reimagined 2025) *HQ*

Iron Maiden singer BRUCE DICKINSON releases a partially re-recorded version of his classic 1994 solo album Balls To Picasso – revisited and regenerated. Now re-titled ”More Balls To Picasso”, the album includes new orchestral arrangements, horns and “beefed up” guitars.
Balls To Picasso was Dickinson’s second solo album, and his first after leaving Iron Maiden in 1993. It featured Tribe Of Gypsies as Dickinson’s backing band, whose guitarist Roy Z co-wrote seven of its 10 songs. Z continues to work on Dickinson’s solo music, co-writing 2024’s album The Mandrake Project.
The new edition adds previously unreleased versions of ‘Gods Of War’ and ‘Shoot All The Clowns’ recorded live in the studio. The remaining 10 songs replicate the 1994 original’s running order.
Dickinson said of the decision to rework the album: “While mixing all my catalogue into Dolby Atmos, I had a nagging desire to revisit and reinvent the record. Putting more balls into Balls… was a labour of love.”
The Brazilian composer Antonio Teoli added some stunning orchestral arrangements, and in a unique contribution, added indigenous instruments from the Amazon (recorded by himself when he lived there!) at the beginning of ‘Gods Of War’.
‘Shoot All The Clowns’ features a horn section fronted by Berkeley College of Music Professors, and all of the record gets the benefit of the mix by Brendan Duffey (The Mandrake Project). Explaining the changes, Dickinson said: “We beefed up the guitars courtesy of our ‘Swedish shredder’ Philip Naslund, and we added some really beautiful work by Adassi Adassi on ‘Tears Of The Dragon’ as well…

LILLIAN AXE / REMASTER / STIFF (Pre-Lillian Axe)

STIFF (Pre-Lillian Axe) – Straight Up 1987 + ‘Stiff 2025’ [FnA Records remaster 2-CD] (2025) *0dayrox Exclusive*

Reissue label FnA Records has done it and dug out a gem from the ’80s with the release pre-Lillian Axe band STIFF 1987’s ”Straight Up” EP along with many demos from the era, and even some new material recorded 2025 (STIFF is back!) and everything is packaged into a double album.
The first disc is the remastered version of the 1987 mini-album ”Straight Up” plus 12 demo tracks with a much better sound quality than the copies circulating among fans. The second disc features “Stiff 2025“, 8 new tracks by the new version of STIFF 2025 including the super-catchy anthem ‘Cocktail Queen’.
STIFF was cooked up in the scorching heat of a Texas summer. Founded by Jon Ster (guitar, keyboards) and Rob Stratton (bass) – later members of LILLIAN AXE – plus vocalist Greg Peddie were coming up with a new plan. That plan became STIFF.
Stratton says: ” We knew what we wanted. Visual style. Dynamic rock. Original songs with smart lyrics. Stunner vocals that didn’t sound like every other band. Pummeling bass lines. A heavy dose of screaming guitar. A song list that would blow up the dance floor. We wanted a band that would generate the feel of a party – a big party – like a New Year’s Eve party – every night.”
STIFF’s catchy melodic hard rock songs earned them spots opening for Quiet Riot, UFO, Twisted Sister, Autograph, Zebra, Pantera, Dokken, and more.
“Every gig was a party, and we loved it. But partying 300 nights a year can take a toll and Greg decided to leave the band. We knew it would be challenging to replace his vocal talent and his unique look, but we found Ron Taylor (later Lillian Axe frontman), and he was a great fit. He had a powerful voice that matched his commanding stage presence, and the girls went crazy for him – so he fit right in with the rest of us” completes Stratton.
With Ron Taylor on lead vocals STIFF recorded ”Straight Up” in 1987, as well as many unreleased songs, now included here…

RARE ALBUMS / REMASTER / ROULETTE (Bob Wheeler) / UNRELEASED / V.A. Lost Jewels Series

The ”Lost US Jewels” Vol.3 ; ROULETTE featuring Bob Wheeler – If Time… (Out Of Print) *HQ*

Some great AOR & Melodic Rock acts – specifically in the Eighties / Nineties – both in UK and the US never got the luck they truly deserved. So this is the mission of Steelheart Memories Records with their “Lost UK / US Jewels” Collector’s Series; endeavor to bring you these ‘hidden treasures’ via Limited Edition Collector’s Volumes (500 copies pressed of each CD).
As requested, here’s “ROULETTE featuring Bob Wheeler – If Time… [Lost US Jewels Vol.3]”, including previously unreleased material. What we have here is in fact singer Bob Wheeler-fronted bands ROULETTE and T.C. JESTER recorded material but never properly released. Both Dallas‐based bands toured throughout the U.S. in the early Nineties.
ROULETTE with their melodic and ‐ at the same time ‐ hard rocking sound recalling styles and bands like Van Halen, Triumph, Roxy Blue, and a bit of Damn Yankees recorded a professional demo of 5 songs. These songs were offered to labels, but ultimately shelved. Now appear here for the first time. It’s catchy stuff with a very good audio quality.
After Roulette, Wheeler joined T.C. JESTER, a much more hard edged / guitar driven project a la Skid Row and their second album Slave To The Grind type of sound. While heavier and sharper in its delivery, the core of the songs is very melodic, with Wheeler showcasing a more powerful vocal attack, yet with interesting vocal harmony arrangements…

REMASTER / WHITESNAKE

WHITESNAKE – Into the Light: The Solo Albums [6-CD Box Set] (2024) *HQ*

David Coverdale, the unique voice behind Whitesnake and former Deep Purple frontman, sees his solo work shine brightly in a new collection featuring remixed, remastered, and revisited versions of his solo albums WhiteSnake (1977), NorthWinds (1978), and Into the Light (2000) in a 6-disc box set titled “Into the Light: The Solo Albums“.
The upcoming boxed set features two versions of Coverdale’s solo albums: one newly remixed to deliver a more dynamic sonic experience and a second remastered from the original recordings for those who want to revisit the classic sound.
The remixed versions feature significant updates (particularly to ‘WhiteSnake’ and ‘NorthWinds’) and utilize cutting-edge audio separation software. The track “Time & Again” from NorthWinds benefited from innovative voice extraction technology, allowing for new string and piano arrangements that Coverdale has envisioned for decades.
The collection also unearths several unreleased demos from Coverdale’s archives, including songs destined for future Whitesnake albums, old tapes, outtakes…

REMASTER / Uncategorized / VANDENBERG

VANDENBERG – The Definitive Vandenberg [Dutch only 2-CD / rarities] *EXCLUSIVE*

As requested, here’s the Dutch only 2-CD release “The Definitive Vandenberg”, including hard rockers VANDENBERG all singles remastered, plus new recordings and an extra disc of rarities, previously unreleased material.
This isn’t the typical ‘best of’, because includes a bunch of never heard Vandenberg songs essential for fans of the band and really enjoyable for hard rock aficionados in general.
The first disc features all of the band’s singles – some in its 7” versions/mix not available on CD before – ‘inside tracks’, as well as one new track for this release; a re-recorded version of their biggest hit ‘Burning Heart’ entitled “Burning Heart 2004” including a string arrangement. Of course, the original version of ‘Burning Heart’ is part of the track list too.
The second disc “Rarities” is a collection of previously unreleased material including live tracks, quality pre-production demos and a new acoustic version of Burning Heart, “Burning Heart 2004 Unplugged”.
It’s great to discover very good hard rocking songs that unfortunately never made it in disc but truly deserved it judging it quality, such as ‘Nothing to Lose’, the melodic ‘Ready for You’, ‘Back on My Feet’ (recalls early Europe), ‘I’m on Fire’ or the punchy ‘Out in the Streets’…

ANN WILSON / HEART / REMASTER / SHM-CD

HEART – Bad Animals [Japanese SHM-CD remastered]

As part of the essential HEART albums reissued on SHM-CD by Universal Japan is the great “Bad Animals“. The recording continues the mainstream melodic hard rock style from the band’s 1985 self-titled release, all while enjoying similar success, three times platinum.
“Bad Animals” contains the number 1 hit single “Alone”, while “Who Will You Run To” reached No. 7, “There’s the Girl” reached No. 12, and “I Want You So Bad” reached No. 49. All are terrific songs. While the album is notable for containing only a few tracks with writing contributions from lead members Ann and Nancy Wilson, I have no problem at all with it.
And that’s because we have the songwriting talents of monsters such as Tom Kelly, Billy Steinberg, Holly Knight, Steve Kipner, Peter Beckett… wow.

LORD TRACY / REMASTER

LORD TRACY – Deaf Gods Of Babylon [Bad Reputation remaster] (2023) HQ *Exclusive*

Here’s in exclusive the Bad Reputation remaster of 1989’s LORD TRACY debut album “Deaf Gods Of Babylon“, a pretty killer underrated melodic hard rock record / band.
Founded by ex- Black Oak Arkansas bassist Kinley “Barney” Wolfe, drummer Chris Craig and guitarist Jimmy Rusidoff, the band recruited Terry Glaze, formerly of Pantera, as lead vocalist. Their first album, “Deaf Gods Of Babylon”, was released in the fall of 1989 on UNI Records / MCA.
LORD TRACY wasn’t you tipically hair metal band, musically with many influences and an acid sense of humor. Musically, “Deaf Gods Of Babylon” is classic bluesy hard rock, with melody, and cool, fun twists.
This much needed remastering gives the album a new sonic dimension. Where the original CD feels flat, on this Bad Reputation remaster the guitars scream, and vocals are huge…

REMASTER / RETURN

RETURN – Attitudes +1 [Norske Albumklassikere 80-tallet remastered] (2024) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

As part of the ‘Norske Albumklassikere 80-tallet’ series from the excellent Norwegian reissue label Norske Albumklassikere – which seems to have access to almost every Norwegian release from the 70s and 80s – comes this really welcomed remastered reissue of RETURN 1988’s album ”Attitudes”, including a bonus track.
If you’re in the need for an ’80s dose of fluffy 80s AOR, ”Attitudes” does the tryck. This album takes you back to an era when rock music was fun, catchy, infectious, with songs plenty of catchiness, sweet multi-part vocal harmonies, and that Europe-like keys/synths. Very poppy at places – and perhaps a bit cheesy – but who cares, this is feel-good melodic music!
This is fluffy AOR, poppy and catchy as hell, a product of its time – but for fans of the genre… the time best ever. This remastered reissue, as happens with all Norske Albumklassikere 80-tallet series, avoid brickwall and comes balanced and clear…

JEFF PARIS / REMASTER

JEFF PARIS – Race To Paradise [Bad Reputation remaster +4] (2023) HQ *Exclusive*

The name JEFF PARIS is undoubtedly familiar to many American Hard Rock / AOR fans, thanks to his contributions as songwriter to a number of 80s greats (Lita FORD, Y&T, Mr. BIG, VIXEN, XYZ, Stevie SALAS). He also took part in the recording of CINDERELLA’s 1st album (Night Songs) in 1986 as an additional musician, playing keyboards.
Less well known to the general public, this American musician has also had a solo career since the mid-80s. Having started out at the end of the 70s with PIECES, a band that mixed Jazz, Soul and Disco, and then with L.A.X, a Disco band, Jeff Paris finally found his feet in FM / Radio Rock in the Eighties. By the middle of the decade, he had signed to Mercury and was firmly on the road to a hopefully successful solo career.
His first studio album, “Race To Paradise”, appeared in 1986. For the occasion, Jeff Paris was supported by the future drummer of Mr. BIG’s future drummer, Pat Torpey. Jeff Paris’ first solo album navigates the Melodic Rock / AOR waters of the time and will not confuse fans of the genre.
Now reissue label Bad Reputation is releasing “Race To Paradise” for the first time on CD, including four bonus tracks…

DEF LEPPARD / JOE ELLIOTT'S DOWN 'N' OUTZ / REMASTER / SHM-CD

DEF LEPPARD – Hysteria [Japan SHM-CD new remaster / Limited Release] (2023) HQ *Exclusive*

A few days ago Universal Music Japan started a new reissue campaign of DEF LEPPARD albums pressed on SHM-CD, a Limited Edition release on miniLP faithfully replicating the album first edition LP in miniature and the original Japanese OBI. This reissue differs from the previous (now sold out) SHM-CD reissues, as features a new remastering.
“Hysteria” is a classic, one of the best selling albums in history, and one of the best produced. This album sounds terrific. Every track sparkles and burns. There is no filler. Mutt Lange gets full credit as a co-composer. He is, in fact, the sixth Leppard — the one who takes their riffs and choruses and assembles them into spectacular tracks.
There’s the relentless big drums; the dazzling guitar montages; the impeccable sense of structure and separation; the preternatural clarity. None of which is to suggest that Lange could have made this album on his own. Def Leppard is a sharp, hot and dedicated stage band that really delivers live. Steve Clark and Phil Collen worked like a two-man guitar firestorm – note the pulsing slabs of sound they pump into “Rocket” and the keening leads on “Don’t Shoot Shotgun” and “Love and Affection”. Rick Allen (despite his accident) and bassist Rick Savage remain a formidable rhythm section, and singer Joe Elliott, this time out, has convincingly deepened his range…

BARFLY / REMASTER / UNRELEASED

BARFLY – No Place Like Home [1991 Unreleased / Aqua Net Records remaster] (2023) *EXCLUSIVE*

This one should be one of the biggest rarity among rarities: the New York 5-piece melodic hard rockers BARFLY unreleased album “No Place Like Home”. BARFLY was formed in the late ’80s by lead guitarist Nick Bowcott when Grim Reaper broke up. Including renowned musicians from ex Spread Eagle and Big Mouth members, BARFLY developed a potent and melodic rocking sound and got signed by major label RCA.
Produced & mixed by top cats Jack Ponti & Michael Wagener, their debut album “No Place Like Home” was ready at the end of 1990, promotion and merchandising in the making, but inexplicably the release was shelved. Only few promotional / testing cassettes were distributed, and since then “No Place Like Home” remains into obscurity, with bootleg cassettes being traded among fans.
Now 2023 finally Canadian label Aqua Net Records is releasing a remastered version of this fine slice of classic early 90s American melodic hard rock, a silver pressed CD limited to 300 copies.
Quality here is all over the place, a killer mix of Danger Danger, Hurricane, first Damn Yankees, Warrant, etc.
Terrific stuff, collector’s item, Only at 0dayrox

REMASTER / RONNIE DIO

DIO – The Studio Albums 1996-2004 [remastered 4-disc box-set] (2023) HQ *Exclusive*

BMG and Niji Entertainment Group Inc. have partnered to issue Limited Edition Deluxe CD & LP box sets of Ronnie James Dio’s final 4 studio albums on September 22nd. Titled ”DIO – The Studio Albums: 1996-2004”, the set include Angry Machines (1996), Magica (2000), Killing The Dragon (2002), and Master of The Moon (2004).
Wendy Dio says, “I am very excited to be working with BMG, a label that still has a passion for rock music. They will be making the complete Dio catalogue available again with some interesting surprises.”
Each of the four albums on offer here have been remastered housed in a sideloading box with newly created artwork especially designed for the box-set release.
“DIO The Studio Album Collection: 1996 – 2004” kicks off with ‘Angry Machines’. Recorded in 1996, the album features Tracy G on guitars, ex Dokken Jeff Pilson on bass, skin basher Vinny Appice and Scott Warren on…