Category: REMASTER

CHILLIWACK / REMASTER

CHILLIWACK – Opus X ’82 [Digitally Remastered] *HQ*

Vancouver pop-rock / melodic rock heroes CHILLIWACK occupy a prominent and secure place in the history of Canadian rock’n roll. Their career was a long and fascinating one. It began in the midst of the West Coast explosion of the late ’60s, and reached its commercial peak with a string of albums and hit singles for the Solid Gold label in the early ’80s.
As requested, here’s the digitally remastered reissue of CHILLIWACK 1982’s album ”Opus X’‘, even more commercial n’ catchy than its predecessor with that unique early ’80s festive Canadian sound.
The songwriting and musical talents of Bill Henderson and Brian “Too Loud” MacLeod meld with crystal-clear production and engineering in perfect harmony. ”Opus X” has everything a fan of the genre could want, from the radio hits “Whatcha Gonna Do” and “Secret Information” to the hard-rocking “Don’t It Make Ya Feel” and “Really Don’t Mind” to the haunting “Midnight” with its Foreigner meets Loverboy feel…

MICHAEL SCHENKER / MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP / PETE WAY / REMASTER / UFO

THE PLOT & DAMAGE CONTROL (ft. Pete Way & Michael Schenker) – 2003-2009 [HNE 3CD Box Set] (2022)

The world of hard rock lost a true legend in August 2020 when musician and songwriter Pete Way passed away, shortly after his 70th birthday. Best known as a founder member and bass guitarist of UFO, the enduring music that UFO with Pete Way created influenced everyone from Iron Maiden and Def Leppard to even Metallica. Pete leave and re-join UFO a number of times, leaving for good in 2008.
Pete Way would be involved in a number of collaborations and side projects, including a sporadic solo career. It was during one of his breaks from UFO that he teamed up with fellow UFO band-mate, lead guitarist Michael Schenker, forming the power trio The Plot (CD1) with Badlands’ Jeff Martin on drums in 2003. Quite different to the work that either Pete or Michael had produced with UFO and MSG, and with a slightly sleazy, gritty edge, The Plot has more in common with Pete’s other band, Waysted, but with the bass guitarist now also handling the lead vocals.
Pete Way’s next project was again another collaboration: he joined forces with guitarist Robin George, alongside drummer Chris Slade (AC/DC, The Firm) and The Quireboys’ inimitable lead singer, Spike, to form Damage Control in 2006. This bluesy, melodic hard rock band released 2 albums.
Now Hear No Evil / Cherry red is releasing a 3CD Box Set with these out of print albums.

PETE WAY / REMASTER / UFO

PETE WAY – Solo Albums 2000-2004 [HNE 3CD Box Set] (2022)

When PETE WAY sadly passed away in 2020, it ended a 50+ year career in rock ‘n’ roll, from founder member, bass guitarist and songwriter in UFO, followed by collaborations with Motorhead’s ‘Fast’ Eddie Clarke and Ozzy Osbourne, to forming the self-explanatory Waysted, before re-joining his band-mates in UFO. During one of his occasional breaks from UFO, Pete found time to develop a solo career.
Now Hear No Evil / Cherry Red is releasing ”Solo Albums 2000-2004 [HNE 3CD Box Set]’‘ with all Pete Way solo releases, including bonus tracks.
Forming a trio with guitarist Walt James and drummer Scott Phillips, Pete Way released his solo debut in 2000. Unsurprisingly, given its title, ‘Amphetamine’ (CD1 here) partly chronicles Pete’s relationship with illicit substances.
Taking on lead vocals as well as his trademark bass guitar, the material is a major departure from the melodic rock of UFO, exchanged for a visceral hard rock with a rough swagger to it but at various times throughout it could be called pop, punkish, metal. The song ‘American Kid (What a Shame)’ is a killer tune, and a personal favorite…

ALLEYCAT SMILE / REMASTER

ALLEYCAT SMILE – Alleycat Smile 1992-93 [Retrospect Records remaster] out of print

As requested by many, here’s all the recordings from 1992-93 of New York hard rockers ALLEYCAT SMILE, some only released locally others unreleased, all compiled by Retrospect Records under this self-titled CD remastered with a fine sound quality.
ALLEYCAT SMILE arrived too late, but they had the chops for sure. Think a mix of early MOTLEY CRUE, L.A. GUNS, VAIN, a melodic hard rock touch here and there, and you have the band’s sound. Even on one track they add an AORish touch backing vocals similar to DANGER DANGER.
‘Whip Strikes Flesh’ is a kick ass sleazy rocker with a lot of VAIN to it, a punchy riff and  catchy as Hell chorus is the motto of ‘Castles In The Sky’, while on the midpaced-heavy ” Time Waits For No One” the band creates atmospheres similar to ICON…

HUNTER (US) / REMASTER

HUNTER – L.A. Crossfire [Retrospect Records release] *HQ*

As requested, here’s the stupendous album “L.A. Crossfire” from American melodic rockers HUNTER, recorded in the mid-80s but never properly released. Fortunately Retrospect Records unearthed this little gem for this remastered reissue.
Produced by TOTO’s Bobby Kimball (who also does backing vocals), L.A. Crossfire is pure US Melodic Rock / AOR circa 1986 in terms of sound; polished sound, melodic, with keyboard flourishes and heavenly choruses.
Named after vocalist Stephen Hunter, a smooth performer with a vocal color similar to Max Bacon, the band deliver quality material here in a similar vein of Arrival, Fortune, Biloxi, Giuffria, Journey, etc. On keyboards there’s future Takara ivory-man Brook Hansen providing some awesome synths like Gregg Giufrria, while guitarist Michael Taris is second to none, melodic & elegant…

REMASTER / SAGA

SAGA – Generation 13 +1 [Remastered reissue 2021] HQ

Over 40 years have passed since Canadian melodic prog-rock band SAGA released their self-titled debut album. Since then, they have been an exceptional musical phenomenon and toured the globe various times — all the while selling over 10 million albums worldwide.
Their sonic trademarks – synthesizer harmonies, keyboard-guitar riffs, melodic arrangements, and the charismatic vocals of frontman Michael Sadler – have made Saga an influential rock act of the modern era.
Celebrating the band’s four-decade legacy earMUSIC continues with the band’s reissue series exquisitely remastered and these “must own” releases will be welcome additions to the musical libraries of the Saga faithful.
Inspired in part by the book “13th Gen: Abort, Retry, Ignore, Fail?” by Neil Howe & Bill Strauss, in a time when grunge was the sound of the day, in June of 1995 SAGA released ”Generation 13”… a concept album, musically away from the melodic crossover prog the band was known for.
Saga’s answered the industry with perhaps their most pure PROG and sophisticated album ever.
To put it short, ”Generation 13” is a Prog Rock masterpiece, one you need to listen…

LYIN RAMPANT / REMASTER

LYIN RAMPANT – Up And Cumin’ 1987 [remastered +4] (2022)

Up And Cumin’, the one and only album from Scotland based melodic hard rockers LYIN RAMPANT is being reissued today with bonus tracks. The band was formed in 1983 when Glasgow born vocalist Stewartie Adams came back home to Scotland after leaving London rockers TYTAN and teamed up with ex HEAVY PETTIN’ guitarist Eddie Trainer, drummer Tam Creamer and Edinburgh born bass player Georgie Pringle, to form LYIN’ RAMPANT.
In the mid-80s the band added to the line up keyboardist Paul Stephens also from Edinburgh, as the group, initially playing riff-driven hard rock, wanted a more commercial, AOR-splashed sound.
Released in 1987, on Up And Cumin’ LYIN’ RAMPANT sound & style is pretty similar to HEAVY PETTIN’ meets TOBRUK – melodic hard, with cool catchy choruses. Originally consisting of 8 tracks, this reissue features 2 bonus, and we added 2 extras, demos of songs that never make it into the final cut…

REMASTER / SOUTHGANG

SOUTHGANG – Group Therapy [Bad Reputation remastered] (2022) HQ *Exclusive*

Alongside their first album featured here some days ago, Bad Reputation Records are reissuing as well SOUTHGANG second album 1992’s ”Group Therapy”, fully remastered for the first time. Southgang’s debut LP ‘Tainted Angel’ (1991) was a really good hair metal / bluesy hard rock album with killer songs co-written by Desmond Child.
Follow up album ”Group Therapy” saw the mighty Keith Olsen (Whitesnake) at the co-production helm as well as a slightly change to a much more hard rockin’ style – still all polished and melodic.
Southgang’s second record gets down n’ dirty indeed. Touring, playing naked (yes really!), and a move back to their home town of Atlanta, Georgia, has produced a band and album that’s tough, fast, lean and mean-all without losing the catchy, rollicking Southgang vibe.
You’ve seen it first at 0dayrox

REMASTER / SAGA

SAGA – Network [Remastered reissue 2022] HQ

Over 40 years have passed since Canadian melodic prog-rock band SAGA released their self-titled debut album. Since then, they have been an exceptional musical phenomenon and toured the globe various times — all the while selling over 10 million albums worldwide.
Their sonic trademarks – synthesizer harmonies, keyboard-guitar riffs, melodic arrangements, and the charismatic vocals of frontman Michael Sadler – have made Saga an influential rock act of the modern era.
Celebrating the band’s four-decade legacy earMUSIC continues with the band’s reissue series exquisitely remastered and these “must own” releases will be welcome additions to the musical libraries of the Saga faithful.
In typical Saga fashion, ”Network” saw the band – Sadler, Jim & Ian Crichton and Jim Gilmour, joined by Christian Simpson on drums for the first time – set out to record a concept album revolving around the theme of television programming. The album features a variety of fantastic call-backs to early Saga albums, as well as numerous standout songs such as the powerful opener ‘On The Air’ and the epic ‘Don’t Make A Sound’…

BILLY THORPE / REMASTER / REMASTER ROCK CANDY

BILLY THORPE – East Of Eden’s Gate [Rock Candy Remastered & Reloaded]

This one was requested by some of you to complete collections, and certainly deserve a place in this website and into your collection: BILLY THORPE‘s Eighties album “East Of Eden’s Gate“ ‘Remastered & Reloaded‘ by Rock Candy Records.
The name Billy Thorpe may not have made much of an impact in Europe and America, but in Australia he is a veritable legend, having carved out a highly successful career since the late Sixties in a seminal and raucous hard rocking band called The Aztecs.
By the ’70s he’d outgrown his home grown popularity and moved lock, stock and barrel to Los Angeles, recording a gold selling album helmed by producer Spencer Proffer (Quiet Riot), titled ‘Children Of The Sun’, that established him in the USA as a rising star.
“East Of Eden’s Gate”, originally issued in 1982, and again produced by Spencer Proffer who was riding high on the success he had producing Quiet Riot’s Metal Health, it’s not strange that Thorpe had an all-star cast that included QR’s drummer Frankie Banali and keyboardist Pat Regan, plus stupendous John Waite / David Bowie guitarist Earl Slick, Bill Cuomo (Steve Perry, Whitesnake), Danny Spanos …

REMASTER / TALAS

TALAS (Billy Sheehan) – ‘1985’ (2022)

Throw on ”1985” and it only takes a few seconds of opening track “Inner Mounting Flame” to make it abundantly clear that TALAS are back, and sounding every bit as good as in their heyday. Formed in the mid 70s and dissolved in 1985, they may have never reached arena-headlining status but they were an integral part of the early ’80s hard rock scene, and their long awaited return does not disappoint.
Love the cover art – that Back To The Future / DeLorean – love the music. “The time was right and we were all into it, no one needed any convincing, we were all instantly excited to do it,” explains bassist Billy Sheehan, who is rejoined by drummer Mark Miller and powerhouse vocalist Phil Naro, as well as new recruit Kire Najdovski on guitar. “It’s like we never stopped – everything fell together so easily. It was quite wonderful.”
Now they return with ”1985”, a new album with 11 tracks of classic hard rock, picking up where they left off, and it is a release that will have old school fans salivating and new followers fired up with its big riffs, seductive choruses and killer soloing – basically everything that could be wanted from a Talas record…

DAVID GILMOUR / PINK FLOYD / REMASTER / ROGER WATERS

PINK FLOYD – Animals (2018 Remix) [2022] HQ

At long last, PINK FLOYD’s reissue of 1977’s ”Animals” has become a reality. The long-in-the-works ”Animals 2018 Remix” is out on CD & LP after a four-year delay. While the reissue doesn’t contain any bonus tracks or new material, it’s been remastered / remixed by sound engineer James Guthrie, who finished the project, as the title suggests, back in 2018.
However, since then, the album has been stuck in pre-release purgatory over, of all things, its liner notes after Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters and guitarist David Gilmour couldn’t settle a feud over the issue. Waters singlehandedly wrote the bulk of the five-song studio set, with the exception of “Dogs” — which was co-written with Gilmour.
”Animals” will always be considered one of Floyd’s finest moments. The new mix is thrilling. Even though we’ve all heard this album so many times, the new mix brings a fresh perspective to the piece of work, one that deserves to be experienced…

MOTORHEAD / REMASTER

MOTORHEAD – Iron Fist [Deluxe 40th Anniversary Edition] (1982/2022)

MOTORHEAD 1982’s album ”Iron Fist” is receiving a 40th-anniversary remastered reissue, with a lot of bonus tracks, studio demos and unreleased live takes included among its various new deluxe editions.
The band’s fifth LP will be re-released on Sept. 23 in two-CD and three-LP featuring a remaster of the original album, previously unreleased demos and a full concert from the Glasgow Apollo on March 18, 1982.
Originally issued on April 17, 1982, ”Iron Fist” marked the final album by Motorhead’s classic “Three Amigos” line-up of singer and bassist Lemmy Kilmister, guitarist “Fast” Eddie Clarke (who also produced the record) and drummer Phil “Philthy Animal” Taylor. It followed the band’s landmark Ace Of Spades album and blistering No Sleep ’til Hammersmith live LP.

REMASTER / RONNIE DIO

DIO – At Donington UK; Live 1987 (reissue 2022)

On September 23, Niji Entertainment will re-release two legendary live performances from DIO at the Castle Donington festival in the United Kingdom. “Donington ’83” captures the original DIO lineup on the “Holy Diver” tour and captures a young, hungry band three months after the release of their debut album.
Following three hugely successful studio albums and silver, gold & platinum certifications around the world, “Donington ’87” captures the “Dream Evil” Dio line up (with Craig Goldy on guitar) and features such classics as “The Last In Line”, “Rock ‘N’ Roll Children” and “All The Fools Sailed Away”.
Additionally, the two discs contain killer renditions of both RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH classics, including “Man On The Silver Mountain”, “Neon Knights”, “Stargazer” and “Heaven And Hell”.
Dio live kills… Long Live Rock N’ Roll!

REMASTER / RONNIE DIO

DIO – At Donington UK; Live 1983 (reissue 2022)

On September 23, Niji Entertainment will re-release two legendary live performances from DIO at the Castle Donington festival in the United Kingdom. “Donington ’83” captures the original DIO lineup on the “Holy Diver” tour and showcases a young, hungry band three months after the release of their debut album.
The set features classic tracks from Ronnie James Dio’s already-amazing career as vocalist for RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH, alongside future classics like “Holy Diver”, “Rainbow In The Dark” and “Stand Up And Shout”.
Additionally, the two discs contain killer renditions of both RAINBOW and BLACK SABBATH classics, including “Man On The Silver Mountain”, “Neon Knights”, “Stargazer” and “Heaven And Hell”…