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Dissonance Productions, the ‘metal label’ of Cherry Red Records is about to release CRIMSON GLORY – The Roadrunner Years, a 31-track, three disc box set from legendary Florida based progressive metal act Crimson Glory featuring their first three full length studio albums, originally released via Roadrunner Records.
CD 1 features their self-titled debut full length recording originally released in 1986 including a bonus track, while CD 2 features the classic follow up ‘Transendence’ (a bonus track as well), originally released in 1988. The final disc, CD 3, features the band’s 1991 full length ‘Strange and Beautiful’.
Crimson Glory were formed in Sarosota, Florida as Pierced Arrow. From 1979 to 1983, the band went through name and line up changes. By 1983, the band had settled on the name Crimson Glory. The classic and original line up consisted of singer Midnight, guitarists Jon Drenning and Ben Jackson, bassist Jeff Lords and drummer Dana Burnell.
Along with their heavy sound, progressive arrangements, and melodic tunes, the band stood out for their theatrical looks on stage as the band would perform with masks on. By the mid 1980s, the band were signed to Roadrunner Records.
CRIMSON GLORY where a unique band not only for their haunting metallic masks, but a sound defined by progressive harmonies and dramatic high-pitched vocals, led by the enigmatic frontman Midnight, a cross between Geoff Tate and Rob Halford…

A few days ago we featured the two albums from melodic rock/pop outfit Spider featuring females Holly Knight and Amanda Blue. Well, seems you liked these a lot, then you need to have SHANGHAI self-titled album from 1982, here in its only CD reissue not easy to find.
After the second Spider album, Holly Knight focused in songwriter duties & performing for other artists and amicably leave the band. Enter ‘bad boy’ Beau Hill but this time as musician replacing Holly on the keyboards and contributing songwriting, and the band changed its name for SHANGHAI.
The self-titled album ”Shanghai” on Chrysalis Records was produced & mixed by monsters Bob Rock and Bruce Fairbairn, and having these and Beau involved circa 1982, you can only expect that classic American AOR sound & style here.
The opening track “S.O.S.” sets the tone, reminiscent of Jefferson Starship’s “Jane”, with consistent quality throughout the album. “Born To Rock” brings a touch of hard rock influences, but overall this is AOR / Melodic Rock with the era’s ‘hero pump’. Songs full of big hooks, dynamic keyboards, and showcasing the great pipes of Amanda Blue…

Yesterday we featured in exclusive The Bad reputation remastered reissue on SHOK PARIS album ”Steel and Starlight”. The album was released in 1987 but.. not as the band’s whish.
”Steel And Starlight” was originally released by I.R.S. Records, a label was more suited to working with pop acts than heavy metal bands. Thus, they may have felt the urge to make changes to SHOK PARIS’ songs. Imagine working hard on your major label debut, only to find out after the album was released that numerous changes had been made to your songs; intros were removed, guitars pushed back, etc. As it turns out, in 1987, I.R.S. took creative control of the album after SHOK PARIS delivered it to them. Unfortunately, this happened to a lot of bands.
I can only imagine the disappointment SHOK PARIS felt when I.R.S. remixed the songs, rearranged the track order and even cut tracks altogether. Auburn Records were label partners with I.R.S. for Steel And Starlight’s original release, but I.R.S. had final say.
Finally, the world has been set right decades later by the band and Bill Peters of Auburn Records. ”Steel And Starlight – The Auburn Sessions” features the original Auburn mix of the album. In fact, there is nothing here that was on the original I.R.S. release.
The guitars are a more ‘in your face’, the songs have more punch. The originally intended track order is here as well. The piano intro to “Exhibit A” has been restored as well. The track “The Minutemen” has been properly returned to the track listing as well. The song recounts the Battle of Bunker Hill at the beginning of the Revolutionary War. In 1987, the song was cut because Miles Copeland (head of I.R.S. Records) found the lyrics objectionable to his British ears!
“Fallin’ For You” was written as a replacement for “The Minutemen” on the original release. Here, it is assigned a bonus track status at the end of the album, along with original CD-only bonus track “Streets Of Pleasure”. Also included are 4 unreleased, very good bonus tracks; it is surprising that these didn’t end up on the follow-up album Concrete Killers in 1989…

After a six-year hiatus, IQ returns with ”Dominion”, an fantastic recording that demonstrates their enduring command over melodic progressive rock. Among the wave of second-generation British progressive rock bands that emerged in the 1980s, IQ has always stood at the pinnacle, with a wide sonic spectrum attracting fans from different genres from prog rock to hard rock and even melodic pop.
Their mastery crafting intelligent music is undeniable, combining superb musicianship, sweeping progressions, and deeply evocative lyrics. Peter Nicholls’ vocals remain a defining force. Indeed, his delivery is clear, nuanced, and effortlessly hypnotic, drawing listeners deeply into the new album. Throughout, Nicholls’ vocals beautifully intertwine with the opulent instrumentation, engaging in a dynamic dance with the electric organ & synths, finely crafted guitar solos, and glorious Mellotron.
“Dominion” is sure to delight IQ’s many loyal fans and if you’re not yet a fan or have been IQ-curious for some time, make it a priority to check this album out. You’re likely to be delighted – and a voyage of discovery awaits you…

You keep asking for more OZZY OSBOURNE, and here’s the Prince of Darkness fourth album “The Ultimate Sin“. This remastered Japanese Limited Edition was the only released on a Cardboard Sleeve miniLP replica, now out of print and highly sought after by collectors.
While many, including Ozzy, view “The Ultimate Sin” as ‘not heavy enough’, we completely disagree. It was Ozzy’s ‘more Melodic Hard Rock’ album, and we love it. Love the sonic approach. And we love the classic song ‘Shot In The Dark’.
Produced & engineered by one of the best knob-twiddlers from the ’80s – Ron Nevison – who kept the sound in step with the times (1986) providing a wonderful glossy texture, the album hit new commercial heights for Osbourne after its release peaking at No. 6 and going platinum before the year was out.
This is Ozzy’s last album with Jake E. Lee playing guitar, and he deliver some of the best, flashing guitar riffs & solos from his career…

Continuing the reuested Japanese cardboard sleeve (mini LP replica) reissue series of STYX classic albums on high quality SHM-CD, here’s 1983’s  “Kilroy Was Here“. All these discs were released in a Limited Edition form and are collectibles now.
Styx leader Dennis DeYoung felt the only way for the group to top the No. 1 success of previous album Paradise Theater was to capture the band on film. To that end, he developed an ambitious concept that touched on themes of censorship, totalitarianism and the dangers of increasing technology.
“Kilroy Was Here” would star DeYoung as a rock star named Robert Orin Charles Kilroy (note that the initials spell ‘ROCK’) imprisoned in a future where rock and roll has been banned.
When DeYoung presented his idea to the group, it met with resistance. Concept albums had been commercially viable in the ’70s, but were viewed as passe in the new decade. KISS had only recently experienced an enormous downturn in their career from a concept album titled Music From ‘The Elder‘ and Styx guitarists Tommy Shaw and James “JY” Young both feared another concept album after Paradise Theater would pigeonhole the band.
Despite the mixed reviews, “Kilroy Was Here” was a commercial success, with first single “Mr. Roboto” shooting to No. 3 in…

Formed in 1968 and revived in 2020 by original members guitarist Clem Clempson and bassist Mark Clarke, together with R&B legend singer Chris Farlowe (who joined in 1970), COLOSSEUM is living legend band. They were rone of the first bands to fuse jazz, rock and blues, later morphing in to progressive rock – and currently playing an organic styel of classic rock with a bluesy foundation.
2025 sees COLOSSEUM unveiling a new studio album. Simply titled ”XI”, COLOSSEUM’s eleventh studio album brings another exciting chapter in the band’s recording history, which began in 1969 with their debut Those Who Are About To Die Salute You. The nine songs on ”XI” showcase the current COLOSSEUM line-up at their best – a group of friends, long-time colleagues and like-minded people honoring the memory of founding members Jon Hiseman and Dick Heckstall-Smith without sounding outdated, and who once again cover the wide spectrum of blues, jazz-rock and prog that COLOSSEUM is known for, in a dynamic and inspired manner…

The best live albums put you right there on the front row. And as the raucous Friday-night crowd welcomes ERIC JOHANSON to the stage at the Ground Zero Club in Biloxi, Mississippi, for a set that mines his Billboard-topping studio catalogue, you’ll feel this generational performer in your bones.
“I want ‘Live In Mississippi‘ to make people feel like they’re at our show,” says the Louisiana-born bandleader of the live album bottled last August in the home of the blues and released in March 2025 on Ruf Records. As anyone with their finger on the pulse of blues rock / classic rock surely knows, Johanson is amongst a handful of artists dragging these ancient musical forms in vital new directions. Johanson has explored various musical genres and developed his own style that blends blues, rock, funk, and other influences.
The 10-track live album showcases Johanson (vocals, guitar), bassist Will Repholz, and drummer Terry Scott, Jr., igniting the stage. ‘Live in Mississippi’ is a testament to Eric Johanson’s multifaceted talent. He effortlessly reimagines his own work and breathes new life into borrowed classics, proving his mastery of the blues infused rock in a live setting.
Even the casual listener will quickly recognize Johanson’s profound understanding of the Classic Rock idiom…

As requested, here’s the Bad Reputation remastered reissue of SHOK PARIS‘ second album ”Steel And Starlight”, the underrated killer US metal album from 1987 which now sounds better than never. ”Steel And Starlight” features eleven classic 80s melodic metal tracks, with an anthemic quality that easily gets the neck moving right from the start.
Vocalist Vic Hix has a very charismatic and melodic vocal style, oftentimes sounding like the long lost twin brother of of Blackie Lawless, at others, Ronnie James Dio. There is no doubt that Hix’s vocals are a defining quality of this band. His voice is full and powerful, and he is able to hit and sustain the higher notes when necessary.
As I said, the Dio comparison is very easy to hear, however musically SHOK PARIS has notable elements of W.A.S.P., Icon, Lizzy Borden, very early Pretty Maids, etc. Heavy but hard rockin’, punchy but melodic…

We featured Holly Knight solo album then you need to hear Holly’s early band SPIDER and the albums ”Spider (1980)” and ”Between The Lines” (1981), both great slices of quality melodic pop-rock. This reissue features both – “2on1 CD Spider + Between The Lines”.
SPIDER had respectable commercial success, but over the time, the quality of these two albums has been emphasized by the effect the band had later on: versions of these songs became definitive singles for other artists – particularly John Waite’s on “Change” and Tina Turner’s “Better Be Good to Me”.
Also, the band’s drummer and one of the principal songwriters was talented Anton Fig, one of the most requested musicians from the 80s/90s. And of course Holly Knight with her songs but here performing keyboards, as the lead vocalist was another fantastic female singer: Amanda Blue.
Both LP’s were produced by Peter Coleman (Lee Aaron, Pat Benatar) so expect a clean but dynamic sound with the band delivering energetic melodic tunes…

Let’s continue with this really good Japanese cardboard sleeve reissue series of STYX classic albums on high quality SHM-CD. All were released a some years ago, a remastered Limited Edition ‘mini LP replica’ never reissued – now out of print. Here’s their masterpiece “Paradise Theater“.
“Paradise Theater” was Styx greatest commercial triumph and their #1 album in the charts, achieving triple-platinum sales. It remains as one of the best examples of the convergence between light progressive rock and AOR which typified the arena rock sound of top acts of the late-70s and early-80s such as Journey, REO Speedwagon and Kansas.
Indeed, “Paradise Theater” is for Styx their massive commercial breakthrough as it was ‘Escape’ for Journey, ‘Hi Infidelity’ for REO Speedwagon, and Foreigner with ‘4’…

THE WINDOWS were a Lite AOR / Melodic Rock band from Western Tennessee, USA, formed in 1980. However, most group members met in the country-rock band called Raisin’ Kane five years earlier. It was in the late ’70s when singer and songwriter Larry Brewer fell in love with FM Rock and wanted a more melodic, commercial radio friendly sound: and THE WINDOWS born.
Amassing a strong following THE WINDOWS became regional favorites throughout the Southeastern area during most of the 80s, and had two stable line-ups during that time. The band recorded a demo for shopping labels but were not crazy a about it – they just didn’t wish to move to California following a major label deal.
So in 1987 ”Runnin’ Alone” was released via THE WINDOWS own private label, a collection of catchy tunes mixing the energy of The Arrows with the upbeat, joyful melodic sound of Honeymoon Suite, Loverboy, even Starship. Numbers like ‘Photograph’, title track ‘Runnin’ Alone’, ‘Motorcar’, are feel-good AORish songs, with catchy choruses perfect for the summertime. All very well produced & mixed with clean sonics.
This is the CD reissue put out by the band themselves with their Raisin’ Kane Music label including 2 bonus tracks, a 2001’s release when THE WINDOWS were disbanded already…

She largely deserved it. Singer-songwriter HOLLY KNIGHT gave to the music industry huge hits and sales, and they let the New Yorker to record her own album. Still a quite unknown name for many rock fans, chances are you’ve been humming one of her melodies at least once.
Holly Knight is a Grammy Award-winning songwriter and musician, inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2013. Some of her best-known written songs include: “The Best” by Tina Turner (co-written by Mike Chapman), “Obsession” by Animotion (co-written by Michael Des Barres), or “Love Is a Battlefield” by Pat Benatar. But also contributions for Heart, Cheap Trick, KISS, Aerosmith and hundreds more.
She’s charted 40 times (including 16 top 10 songs) between 1980 and 2011 on the U.S. and / or U.K. charts as a songwriter, and once as an artist. Her single from this solo album, “Heart Don’t Fail Me Now” reached #59 in 1988.
With some of the best involved into “Holly Knight” you can’t go wrong about quality: Nathan East on bass, Jon Robinson & Kenny Aronoff on drums, the guitars of the great Gene Black (his partner previously in Device) and even Nancy Wilson appearing as guest & co-writer, we have a wonderful collection of songs here, from AOR / melodic rock to rocking pop radio friendly, finely produced by one of our ’80s favs: Chris Lord-Alge…

Many of you asked for the Japanese cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue series of STYX on SHM-CD and how is it the audio quality. In one word; outstanding. All were released a few years ago on mini LP replica, a Limited Edition already turned out of print.
These really worth a to have – the only LP replica ever released – as all are essential STYX albums – Let’s go with “The Grand Illusion“.
“The Grand Illusion” launched the band to stardom, spawning the hit singles “Come Sail Away” and “Fooling Yourself”, and selling over three million copies in the US.
Typically, the music on “The Grand Illusion” is fantastic. It’s ambitious, emotive, pretty bombastic and polished. Everything from ripping guitar solos, to fever dream keyboards, to fantastic synthesized soundscapes make up the crux of The Grand Illusion’s sound.

Many of you asked for the Japanese cardboard sleeve (mini LP) reissue series of STYX on  SHM-CD and how is it the sound quality. In one word; outstanding. All were released a few years ago on mini LP replica, a Limited Edition already turned out of print.
These really worth the investment as all are essential STYX albums – Let’s go here with the great “Pieces Of Eight“.
This reissue campaign started with Styx’s releases for A&M Records, being “Pieces Of Eight” the 4th.
Styx had just broken through to superstardom when they released their “Pieces Of Eight”, and the album cemented their position as one of the biggest arena rock headlining groups in America.
Like the band’s previous album The Grand Illusion, it managed to achieve triple-platinum certification, thanks to the hit singles “Sing for the Day”, “Blue Collar Man” and the great Tommy Shaw penned “Renegade”…