0dayrox

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

Category: THE STORM

JOURNEY / ODYSSEY ROAD / THE STORM

ODYSSEY ROAD Tribute to Journey – Essence Recaptured +1

With the requested ‘Journey-related’ bands featured yesterday, here’s something you need to check out for sure. There’s many Journey Tribute bands on the road, but ODYSSEY ROAD is perhaps the best of them all. Sanctioned by Neal Schon, ODYSSEY ROAD is the oldest Journey Tribute acts in America, and they were the first to release a 17-song CD of Journey covers available in the Nation; “Essence Recaptured“.
You may ask why to listen to cover versions when you can hear the originals. Well, ODYSSEY ROAD not only are stupendous, but let us to discover how awesome tunes ‘Who’s Crying Now’, ‘Anyway You Want It’, ‘Separate Ways’, etc, are in other hands.
A good song is always a good song, and the cool thing here is that while ODYSSEY ROAD respect the originals – they are a live band, people what to hear these songs in its original form – they add their ‘own touch’ to ’em. Singer James Bubba Sanderford has a set of pipes like a mix between Stan Bush, John Waite and of course… Steve Perry. And the way he modulate, especially the low octaves has ‘something special’…

JOURNEY / THE STORM / The V.U.

The V.U. (The Storm / Journey members) – Phoenix Rising (recorded 1985) HQ

This beauty was requested by one of you and it’s a pleasure to be featured here at 0dayrox: “Phoenix Rising“., the album recorded by THE V.U., a project featuring Journey and future The Storm members. Originally recorded in 1985, the album was shelved due no label interest in releasing it. How they didn’t get a record deal at the time is beyond me, simply because these tunes are pure 1984/85 sounding US Melodic Rock / AOR in the vein of Journey, Survivor, Foreigner, etc.
Fortunately, Frontiers Records some time finally released this little gem for all us to enjoy. However, it’s out of print now so be prepared for expensive remaining copies.
This is a brilliant, exuberant, vibrant collection of AOR gems from the US best years (1984/86) in my humble opinion. Standout tracks in ‘Keys To The City’, ‘Dreaming Your Life Away’ and the show closer ‘So Long’, but heck, all are delicious.

JOURNEY / THE STORM

THE STORM – Eye Of The Storm [Japanese Edition] HQ

Formed by ex Journey members in 1989 while the band was on hiatus, THE STORM released 2 stupendous, Essential AOR albums. Here’s their second “Eye Of The Storm” in its Japanese Edition, featuring a different – and better – cover artwork. And the songs are as good as on the fantastic debut.
If ever there was a band and an album that could’ve been described as the ultimate Journey tribute, then this was probably it. Twelve songs all make a bee-line for your memory banks, such is the repeatability of the material.
Genuine classics include the momentous ‘Fight For The Right’, sounding like primetime Diving For Pearls, plus the smooth radio-friendly AOR of ‘Waiting For The World To Change’. Even the opener ‘Don’t Give Up’ combined with the surging momentum of ‘I Want To Be The One’ will have the CD on repeat-play mode.
Then of course a band like The Storm should toss in a ballad or two.. ‘To Have And To Hold’ being the prime example, the other being ‘What Ya Doing Tonight’…

JOURNEY / THE STORM / The V.U.

THE STORM (Journey members) – The Storm (1991) HQ

Here’s a wonderful request: formed by Journey member Ross Valory in 1989 while the band was on hiatus, THE STORM released 2 stupendous, Essential AOR albums, including legendary Gregg Rollie into the line up and the excellent Kevin Chalfant at the mic. Produced by Beau Hill, “The Storm” is their debut album, a delicious collection of American AOR songs of the highest order.
The band featured three of Journey’s former members (two of whom were founding members) – Gregg Rolie as keyboardist, Ross Valory on bass, and Steve Smith on drums. Kevin Chalfant, who had a #12 chart hit in 1982 as lead vocalist with AOR band 707, was lead vocalist (Rolie also shared lead vocalist duties), and Josh Ramos (who cited Journey founder and guitarist Neal Schon as a major influence) was chosen lead guitarist…

HARDLINE / RAMOS / THE STORM / TWO FIRES

RAMOS – My Many Sides (2020)

Guitarist for some of the greatest AOR acts of the last 30 years (Hardline, The Storm, Two Fires) it was time that Josh RAMOS released his debut album; ”My Many Sides’‘ will be released by Frontiesrs Music tomorrow.
Of course, there’s a terrific cast of session musicians, and some incredible vocalists as wel such as Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Danny Vaughn (Tyketto), Harry Hess (Harem Scarem), Terry Ilous (XYZ), John Bisaha (The Babys), Tony Harnell (ex-TNT), and the late Tony Mills (ex-Shy, TNT).
A real tour de force of Melodic Rock from this fiery six-stringer, this album will thrill and delight lovers of genre around the world, and yes, it’s one of the gems of the year.