Category: Uncategorized

XYZ – Take What You Can… [Axe Killer / Bad Reputation remaster + Japanese edition bonuses] *HQ*

We featured some time ago the two first albums by really good melodic hard rock outfit XYZ, the band fronted by capable Terry Ilous. It was requested here their third effort “Take What You Can…” as well, and it’s a really enjoyable album too.
The album was put together by Ilous in 1995 when XYZ was already put on hiatus and the vocalist involved in other projects. The disc is combination of live on tour recordings, radio performances, and rarely heard demos – a must have for any XYZ collection.
There’s 2 versions of ”Take What You Can…”. The first, released in 1995, and the Axe Killer / Bad Reputation remaster appeared 1997. Both contain the same first 8 songs recorded live, very hot and rockin’. All songs after differ on each release, as well as the artwork.
This is the Axe Killer remastered CD including as bonus tracks XYZ’s 1st EP ‘Straight In The Night‘, released in 1985 before band was discovered by Don Dokken and got signed to Enigma Records. This is the first time the EP was released on CD, and the only place to find it.
The U.S. and Japanese releases from 1995 are the same, as bonus including 6 tracks, radio appearances and well recorded demos musically with a heavier punch. We added as extra those songs.
“Take What You Can… [Axe Killer / Bad Reputation remaster] is a limited edition collectible where the live tracks sound quality is much, much better, and includes XYZ very first EP…

TOWER – Let There Be Dark (2025) *HQ*

New York City’s own TOWER belongs to other planet – or better, other era. Their new album ”Let There Be Dark” is a powerhouse ode to classic ’80s metal full of sizzling guitar work and the massive vocals of female Sarabeth Linden. The CD mix the best elements of early U.S. metal and NWoBHM but with a sound & style that leaves you tired – tired of headbangin’!
This 5-piece dig deep into the Eighties metal crypts for retro gold – and dude, they are really good at it. Recording took place between October and December 2024, with renowned producer and engineer Arthur Rizk (King Diamond) at the helm. ”Let There Be Dark” is metallic, dark indeed, and heavy, but always melodic.
Opener ‘Under the Chapel’ is a barn scorcher full of dazzling riffwork leveraging the raucous, primal edge of NWoBHM, but rather than coming in at 12 and staying there, Sarabeth opts for seductive croons over brute force at times, using her enchanting siren song to create a more diverse experience. The aggressive music pairs very well with Sarabeth’s shifting tones and the song sticks in the grey matter immediately…

THE STATESBORO REVUE – Statesboro Revue (2025) *HQ*

Do you wanna hear something refreshing? Just push play on the new THE STATESBORO REVUE album, their self-titled “Statesboro Revue“. This Austin, TX based band have been around for almost two decades, releasing a few albums but the last one dates from 2015, and since then they concentrated in standalone singles.
Now THE STATESBORO REVUE needed to express their music into a complete album, and glad they did. This is a wonderful band. There’s been a lot of buzz on this ‘comeback’ record, and it’s well deserved. As it turns out, “Statesboro Revue” covers a lot of ground, working that acoustic feel in with electric licks, organ, harmonica and even a bit of steel.
Yeah, THE STATESBORO REVUE brings to mind those classic American bands of yesteryear. This album delivers the Texas sound that they flex with rock ‘n roll, Southern rock, soul, Americana, funk, roots blues, country, and more, depending on the song they’re performing. There’s a twang all over these songs but with a rock groove foundation.
This band has the feeling, roots rock sound and attitude in their music that many bands before them have strived to achieve…

OZZY OSBOURNE – Bark At The Moon [Rough Mix / Executives tape] (1983) *HQ*

Are you ready for more OZZY? And from the Jake E. Lee era? Well, here’s ”Bark At The Moon [Rough Mix]”, the full album as it was shown to record executives for approval. These rough mixes features some parts of what would end into the album, but others not, such as rhythm riffs, solos, Ozzy phrasings, etc.
While the feeling is similar to the ‘recording sessions’ we featured at 0dayrox as well, on this ”Bark At The Moon [Rough Mix]” the multi-tracks of all instruments where put into a mix desk and the sound comes homogeneous, vibrant, rough indeed yet smokin’ hot. And it’s so fun to hear Ozzy ‘presenting’ the material.
Audio quality is excellent, and yes, now listening in perspective, in these rough mixes some songs are – if not better – equally good as the polished (and also stupendous) final versions. Just hear Jake’s guitar on ‘Rock And Roll Rebel’… Wow! razor sharp.
You need to hear ”Bark At The Moon [Rough Mix]… killerrrrr!

BERNIE MARSDEN – Purple Haze (2025) HQ *Exclusive*

It’s a big loss that BERNIE MARSDEN left us almost two years ago. The original Whitesnake guitarist was among the best with his blues mojo. Fortunately he recorded a full album before passing away, the luxury ‘Working Man’, featured at 0dayrox in its deluxe edition.
But there’s more unreleased music from Bernie, and his record company is releasing now “Purple Haze“, a new EP which title is taken from Marsden’s cover of Jimi Hendrix’s classic song. It’s terrific.
Among the track list we find as well Marsden doing a great version of ‘On the Road Again’ (Canned Heat), and his personal, wonderful take on ‘Sitting on Top of the World’, an old blues staple by the Mississippi Sheiks, a song that has become a standard of traditional American music widely recorded in a variety of different styles – folk, blues, country, bluegrass, rock. Bernie’s version is blues-rock, with his trademark sustain…

OZZY OSBOURNE – Bark At The Moon ~recording sessions~ [1983]

As requested, here’s more OZZY OSBOURNE music from the ’80s. Alongside the posts featured here about his third album ‘Bark At The Moon’, you need to hear this “Bark At The Moon recording sessions“.
And it’s just that: the creative process of the album into the studio. All the musicians: Ozzy, Jake E. Lee, Bob Daisley, Tommy Aldridge and Don Airey playing together, live into the studio, all the songs from the Bark At The Moon album.
But these are not just rehearsals – they play the full songs, full band, with some new arrangements and twists according the songs progressed. And audio quality is excellent.
The track list feature all the songs, including ‘Spiders in the Night’ that never made it into the LP’s final cut. I won’t say these early takes are better than the final versions, but come close. Heavier for sure.
Listening to “Bark At The Moon recording sessions” is like having the band performing in front of you back in 1983, but not on stage – in a room just for you.
Amazing stuff!

STEELWINGS – Fever (1989 album re-mixed / re-mastered) [2025] *HQ*

Founded in the early ’80s, Swedish hard rockers STEELWINGS were part of the FWOSHM (First Wave Of Swedish Heavy Metal), played a lot of shows all over Scandinavia, and in 1983 the band went to England to record two songs, one featured in the ‘Metal Plated’ compilation album. They also appeared on the charity record Swedish Metal Aid, together with other Swedish heavy rock bands such as Europe, Treat and Heavy Load.
STEELWINGS then recorded their self-tiled full length debut ‘Steelwings’ released on LP and CD in 1989, a very well received mix of melodic hard rock, melodic metal and a pinch of AOR. But a year after the group suspended activities.
In 2007 the new era for STEELWINGS began when the band was asked to perform on the 700 years anniversary festival of the city of Markaryd. They recorded some singles and 2019 STEELWINGS released their comeback album ‘Back’, followed by the strong ‘Still Rising’ in 2022.
As requested by many fans world-wide, now STEELWINGS are releasing a re-vamped version of their 1989 album;
re-titled as one of the songs – “Fever” – the original tapes were completely re-mixed and re-mastered.
This is pure late ’80s Scandinavian hard rock with melody, polished, clean, and very catchy. The new remixes pushed back most the keyboards / synths from these 1989 original tapes in favor to the guitars, resulting in an updated set of rockers but with that Eighties feeling intact…

OZZY OSBOURNE – Bark At The Moon [Japanese CD edition 1986] *HQ*

Bark At The Moon“, the third OZZY OSBOURNE solo album was requested here in its remastered version pressed on high quality Blu-Spec CD2. But we are posting as well this ’80s Japanese CD edition, just from the original tapes, for those who prefer a warmer sound, not bombastic as the remasters.
Ozzy was in a bad place back in ’83. Still hurting from the death of Randy Rhoads, Ozzy was forced to audition players again, a process he hated. Jake E. Lee – original member of Mickey Ratt who became Ratt after a name change in the early ’80s – was selected, perhaps due to his ability to meld white hot riffs with melodic heavy shredding.
Legendary bassist Bob Daisley returned, as did drummer Tommy Aldridge, who had played on the last tour. Don Airey also returned for keyboard duties, creating a spooky atmosphere for the Ozzman to prowl.
And prowl he did. This is a hard rocking album, probably harder than the two previous with Rhoads. It is also a darker sounding album. The great ‘Now You See It (Now You Don’t)’ is an example of a song that has all these qualities. It has a hard, almost Sabbathy guitar riff, but is cloaked in a mysterious darkness.
Ozzy did it again with “Bark At The Moon”: modernized the sound while retaining his essence. And allowed us to discover that great guitar player in Jake E. Lee…

OZZY OSBOURNE – Bark At The Moon [Japan Blu-Spec CD2 remastered +2] *HQ*

Bark At The Moon“, the third OZZY OSBOURNE solo album was requested here in its remastered version pressed on high quality CD, this means Japanese Blu-Spec CD2, Sony Music exclusive manufacturing similar to SHM-CD.
This 2002 remixed version of the album was met with mixed reaction; many elements found in the original mix are not present in the remix, namely several lead guitar parts. This edition also included the bonus tracks “Spiders” and “One Up the ‘B’ Side”, originally the B-side of the “Bark at the Moon” single.
Yes, this beloved Ozzy classic album “Bark At The Moon” was remastered, but also with an unadvertised remix. There was no sticker on the cover indicating this album was remixed, and it was also ignored in press releases. The liner notes claim this was remixed by Tony Bongiovi (like the original).
Why this was done is a mystery to me, I’ve never read anything about it. All I can say is that you’ll notice particularly on Jake E. Lee’s solos, the overall sonics, and some keyboard parts as well. The ending to some songs, and the beginnings of others are very different. Maybe Ozzy thought the album sounded dated? The remix seems as if they were trying for the drums and effects to sound more punchy, more ‘updated’. Which is silly, of course, a classic will always be classic…

ALCATRAZZ – Disturbing The Peace [HNE Deluxe Edition remastered +9] (2016) *HQ*

As requested, here’s ALCATRAZZ 1985’s album ”Disturbing The Peace”, in its Hear No Evil / Cherry Red remastered reissue, including 9 demo songs as bonus tracks. There has been various remasters of this album; ”Disturbing The Peace [HNE Deluxe Edition remastered +9]” is the most ‘powerful’ of all, and this HNE version has become pretty hard to find.
After the incendiary debut LP, this second Alcatrazz studio album appeared in 1985. Major changes had occurred; management, record label and crucially the departure (sacking) of enfant terrible Yngwie Malmsteen.
In came on guitar the inspired choice of a young and extremely talented Steve Vai (ex Frank Zappa and later to grace David Lee Roth and Whitesnake). As Graham Bonnet himself opined now they were a ‘band’, not a showcase for vocals and flashy guitar shreds. And I’d agree as Vai plays ‘with’ the band and the result is truly cohesive.
Produced by legend Eddie Kramer, “Disturbing The Peace” simply rocks!
“Disturbing The Peace” has been reissued some time ago with a bonus live disc, but never in a package as good as this as the fresh remaster of the main album sound million bucks. Additionally, we have for the first time on CD the rare edit version of ‘Will You Be Home Tonight’, plus several pre-production demos (very good sound) which are a pure delight…

PRIDE (Sweden) – Playing With Fire [2025 reissue] +2 YesterRock Extras *HQ* Exclusive

PRIDE was a terrific Swedish AOR band active between 1987 and 1991. Their sound can be compared to some of Scandinavia’s leading bands from the era, such as Treat, Glory or Fate. Despite the intense touring and the release of the singles ‘You’re The Only One’ and ‘Dreamer In The Night’ in 1989, the recorded material for an album was never released before specialized label AOR-FM in 2008 picked up the tapes and released a limited 550 copies edition.
All over the world, rabid AOR fans asked for more, but the CD was sold out. Fortunately, back in 2011 excellent reissue label YesterRock reissued “Pride” with two previously unreleased tracks and the original artwork.
However, the YesterRock CD is also out of print now, so the band themselves are re-releasing 2025 the album re-titled “Playing With Fire“. As extra, we added the valuable YesterRock bonus tracks.
If you like classic ’80s Scandi AOR / Melodic Rock you can’t go wrong here; the lead single ‘You’re The Only One’ has a very commercial radio oriented sound, with lots of keyboards and a catchy chorus.’Dreamer In The Night’ is a faster paced track which gallops on heavy synths and melodic guitar riffs. For a pure dose of AOR, Pride offer up…

KISS – Psycho Circus [5-CD Fan Edition] HQ *Exclusive*

It was requested here 1998’s “Psycho Circus“, the last KISS studio album to involve all four original members. But you asked for the 2-CD Limited Edition appeared a year after including a bonus disc with live recordings of some album tracks, plus others.
But we’ll do it bigger: this “Psycho Circus [5-CD Fan Edition]” features the 2-disc Limited Edition, plus a disc of Extra Tracks (among them the Japanese bonus track ‘In Your Face’), the album performed live in the studio, and other with outtakes from this and other recording sessions.
While Ace and Peter only play in a few songs, ”Psycho Circus” is the best collection of new arena-rock anthems KISS have put their names to since their Seventies golden era. ”Psycho Circus” sounds so much like the KISS of old that you’d almost think the release date was 1979, only the production and modern technology of the hologram cover tell you otherwise.
A Must

OZZY OSBOURNE – Live in Montreal 1981 featuring Randy Rhoads (2024) HQ *Exclusive*

More music from metal icon OZZY OSBOURNE has been requested, and here we have this album recently released; “Live in Montreal 1981 featuring Randy Rhoads“, showcasing Ozzy’s perhaps best band ever; Randy Rhoads – guitar; Rudy Sarzo – bass; Tommy Aldridge – drums; Don Airey – keyboards.
Recorded at St. Denis Theatre, Montreal, Quebec, 28 July 1981, the concert includes songs from Ozzy’s debut LP
‘Blizzard of Ozz’, but also from the not-yet released ‘Diary of a Madman’.
But what makes this Canadian appearance so special is that it is one of the few professional live recordings made of Randy Rhoads, who would die in a senseless small plane crash the following May, while taking a joy ride on a rare day off from Osbourne’s hectic touring schedule. While he was alive, critics and fans were saying Rhoads was as good as Eddie Van Halen; who knows what great music he could have made had he not died so early in life.
While a couple of tracks from this show were released on expanded reissues of Ozzy’s studio albums, the complete show never was released until now. Ozzy and Sabbath fans alike will love this recording, even though he only does one song from his Sabbath days, the set-closing “Paranoid.”

The Lost UK Jewels Vol. 26: FAHRENHEIT UK – Feel The Heat (2023) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive*

As part of the great ”The Lost UK Jewels” series unearthing lost bands which deserved better luck or at least, exposure, here’s “The Lost UK Jewels Vol. 26: FAHRENHEIT UK – Feel The Heat“, limited to 500 units.
There were / are many bands with the same name, this FAHRENHEIT hails from Grimsby, Lincolnshire, England. The group released an EP and a full album in the Nineties, however “Feel The Heat” compiles all FAHRENHEIT UK recordings between 1986-1990, their more melodic rock / AOR era.
FAHRENHEIT have made no secret of their influences when it came to writing their material, and Steve Overland’s FM has always been their main influence. Winners of Metal Hammer’s “Find A Band Competition” and proud owners of a “Friday Rock Show” session, FAHRENHEIT have taken the grim out of Grimsby and replaced it with a huge chunk of sun-drenched AOR hewn from the smoothest rock.
With interest from Warner Bros Records, support slots with Saxon, Vow Wow and Magnum, this is the usual story of missed opportunities and failed promises.
Musically think FM, Heartland, Strangeways and Tobruk, to name but a few British peers from the ’80s…

URIAH HEEP – King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Uriah Heep 1974 [Japanese Release] *HQ*

Recorded on February 8, 1974, at San Diego Sports Arena in San Diego, California, this “King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Uriah Heep” showcases the legendary band at, for many, their finest moment. And official KBFH release, this is the Japanese release featuring different cover art.
By 1974, Heep was as powerful as any band anywhere, and this night, was a powerful night.
Uriah Heep had just made magnificent ‘Sweet Freedom’ album and were peak of their powers. Gentlemen Mick Box, Byron, Hensley, Kerslake, and Thain were so called “classic” Heep line up and it’s easy to hear why. Who were having more fun – group or audience?
The King Biscuit Flower Hour has been a Rock ‘N’ Roll ritual for over three decades. Broadcast weekly over hundreds of FM radio stations, the show was always dedicated to bringing the finest live performances of rock’s most important acts.
These recordings are from the extensive King Biscuit archives. They contain some of the most compelling and rare moments in rock history. In keeping with the King Biscuit tradition of superior audio quality, these recordings have been re-mixed and re-mastered from the original multi-track masters with every note kept intact for optimum sonic reproduction.
Fortunately “King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents Uriah Heep” was finally officially released on CD in 1997, and sound quality is excellent…