Category: Uncategorized

GIANT – Live And Acoustic [Frontiers Music release] *HQ*

While some dislike live albums, these are the best representation of a band working together, and sometimes, you’re able to discover a different sonic side from them. In the case of GIANT, well, they are awesome either way. That’s why you need GIANT’s “Live And Acoustic” into your collection.
The band reunited in the early 21st century for the new album ‘Giant III’, and a couple of years later, offered their first live LP, 2003’s “Live And Acoustic”. However, these live takes were recorded between 1989-1992 throughout their shows in both U.S. and Europe.
As its title suggests, you get both plugged-in and acoustic renditions of Giant favorites including classics “I’m A Believer”, “Innocent Days”, “I’ll See You In My Dreams” and “Chained”, as well as stripped-down acoustic versions of “Lay It on the Line”, “Stay”, etc. All the acoustic set was recorded at the club ‘Borderline’ in London.
Dann Huff not only is a consummate guitar player – he sings fantastic live and shows that he can even sing live with power. The acoustic part is cool, not overdubbed, natural and really unplugged…

DEFCON – Time Waits For No One (20th Century Music 2-CD) [2025] *Exclusive*

Midwest melodic hard rockers DEFCON that was formed originally as “Def Con 1” originated in Ohio prior to moving to – and taking over – the Chicago rock scene in the late ’80s. It was in Chicago where DEFCON recorded and signed a management contract with Rudy Sarzo.
With a rabid local following, the quartet built up an international fanbase through reviews in fanzines across the globe and the tape trading “network” around the world. DEFCON recorded many songs, but never officially released an album.
Now 20th Century Music is presenting a 2-disc release titled “Time Waits For No One“, including a bunch of DEFCON songs. Oddly, they didn’t included their only 2 officially released songs, tracks DEFCON recorded for the legendary compilations of unsigned bands titled ”Chicago Metal Works”.
Here we added as ‘extras’ both songs; Blame It On The Night (from Chicago Metal Works 7 Compilation 1991), and Open Your Heart (Chicago Metal Works Volume 5 Compilation 1989).
Compared to Warrant, Danger Danger, Hurricane, Jet Red, etc, DEFCON’s music was good, fun and catchy…

MASQUERADE – Masquerade [Japanese Remaster +5] *HQ*

If there’s a Melodic Hard Rock / AOR album deserving to be rescued from oblivion, that is undoubtedly the self-titled debut from Swedes MASQUERADE. Well, this is exactly what have done the Japanese Marquee / Avalon label, with this awesome remastered reissue plus 5 bonus tracks.
“Masquerade” was originally released in 1992. The sound of this superb release instantly reminds of TNT’s early glory days, and some Def Leppard, at least in their layered background vocals and, overall, is the perfect example of how a great Scandi Melodic Hard Rock album should sound!
This album has it all: great melodies, hooky arrangements, superb songwritting, catchy tunes, bombastic production, a very good singer but, most of all, a fantastic guitar player. Thomas Eric, when it comes to soloing or riffing, is simply amazing.
It’s nonsense to mention a highlight: all songs are. Believe us. No fillers here, just 12 songs (there’s two short interludes) of pure melodic hard rock bliss with a rocking AOR feeling…

CARL DIXON – One ’93 [AOR Heaven Remaster +2] +4 extra tracks from the same sessions *HQ*

As requested, here’s Coney Hatch frontman CARL DIXON solo debut album, 1993’s “One“, in its AOR Heaven Records remastered reissue, includng 2 previously unreleased bonus tracks. With detailed liner notes by legendary journalist Dave Reynolds, full lyrics and rare photos, this re-release has bee remastered by expert Chris Lyne. Additionally, despite isn’t mentioned, the album has been slightly re-mixed, as compared with the original edition there’s subtle differences on many tracks.
As extra, we added the exclusive tracks from Dixon’s EP released the same ’93, same sessions, four songs.
“One” is classic Canadian Melodic Rock / AOR from A to Z. We still got the original release, but didn’t played it since many years. Now listening this stupendous remastering only can say that completely forgot how good this record is.
It makes no difference which of the 17 tracks (including the 2 bonus) you choose, you’ll get melodic rock / AOR par excellence. “The Blood Rises“ does exactly that to the listener, while “More Than A Memory“ reminds me more than once on the mighty Eddie Money (R.I.P.).
You can do no wrong with the ballsy April Wine–ish “Through The Fire“. “Against The Night“ and “Love Is Waiting“ are the names of the non-syrupy ballads. The great “One Good Reason” is a co-write with maestro Brett Walker, then the rocker “Taste Of Love” sounds like Aerosmith meets Def Leppard flavoured…

GIANT – III [Japanese Edition +4] + 0dayrox Extra *HQ*

With the new strong 2025 GIANT album, some of you asked for the band’s early records – we featured the classic 2 first already – and if you love this band then they third release – titled “III” – is a must in your collection.
And this now hard to find Japanese CD “III [Japanese Edition +4]” including 4 bonus tracks is the one to have; tracks 11 to 13 were previously released on the ‘Don’t Leave Me In Love’ CDsingle (2001) as B-sides, however track 14, the Stevie Wonder cover of ‘Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers (Live)’, is exclusive to this Japanese CD. And believe us, this track alone worth this Japan CD as Dann Huff’s guitar work is out of this world.
During a meeting in Chicago in 1999, Frontiers Records proposed to drummer David Huff to bring back the name and the music of such a majestic band. The guys loved this idea and agreed to release a brand new album. It take two years long to get “III” ready, but well worth the wait!
And we always give you more, from the aforementioned ‘Don’t Leave Me In Love’ single, we added as extra the stupendous unplugged version of Giant’s classic ‘Stay’, never released elsewhere. This ‘Stay [Unplugged]’ is much more than an ‘acoustic version’, it’s a full-on band recording plenty of dynamics…

JAILHOUSE – Jailhouse [’80s / early ’90s recorded] (1998) *HQ*

After leaving Rough Cutt in 1988, 3/5 of the band – guitarist Amir Derakh, bassist Matt Thorr and drummer Dave Alford regrouped with guitar player Michael Raphael & singer Danny Simon (Agent X) and JAILHOUSE was formed.
Jailhouse released an indie EP in 1989, developed a strong following and played all of the clubs & venues on L.A.’s Sunset Strip. They even made a video for the song “Please Come Back” which was heavily played on MTV. The band released another EP and soon after a major record label offered a deal, however things fell through among members, and Jailhouse was no more in 1991.
Fast forward to 1998, Jailhouse finally released by themselves this self-titled album featuring material from back then, including the complete 1989 and 1991 EP’s, plus previously unreleased songs – all professionally recorded.
Their style was always more mature and ‘adult’ than the typical bands of the hair metal movement, especially the lyrics, without giving up the fun, plenty of catchy choruses and funky rockin’ melodies.
This is really well written melodic hard rocking songs, one of them featured in the soundtrack of the Adam Sandler comedy blockbuster ‘That’s My Boy’, and two of the songs present here were later recorded by NELSON for their album ‘Imaginator’…

RAY ROPER – I’m A Fighter [Long Island Records] (1995)

As requested, here’s this forgotten little gem: ‘‘I’m A Fighter”, the solo album by Stonebolt singer RAY ROPER released in the mid-Nineties by legendary German label Long Island Records, however most of the songs were written & recorded in the ’80s.
Canadian Ray Roper is a true unsung hero from the Melodic Rock / AOR music scene, who has been blessing us with his talents for decades. From his days in the band Trama to his unforgettable run with the Pomp Rock act Stonebolt, Ray has consistently delivered memorable and timeless music.
His one and only solo album “I’m A Fighter”, is a wonderful trip down memory lane. It’s a reminder of the golden days of melodic rock in the 70s and 80s, and Ray’s signature sound is as refreshing as ever. The title song “I’m A Fighter” is a perfect blend of classic AOR and pure melodic rock, a track written by Jimi Jamison for Cobra, and later recorded by Van Zant in 1985 as well. Roper’s take is great too.
That Van Zant 1985 awesome record results a proper reference for the sound of this CD – add some Survivor, .38 Special, even a bit of Van Stephenson. You can’t get wrong with Ray Roper’s “I’m A Fighter”!

DANNY VERAS – Can’t Stop The Rock (2025) *HQ*

Born in Brazil, raised in Spain and France, and now calling Florida home, singer DANNY VERAS has lived a life shaped by riffs, road stories, and relentless passion. Since teaming up with melodic hard rock legend Paul Sabu in 2012, the duo has delivered a couple of refined AOR / Melodic Rock albums.
Now, the third solo album, ”Can’t Stop the Rock”, feels like the culmination of decades spent living and breathing music—from early days in Barcelona’s hard rock scene to club nights in L.A. and beyond. This is the kind of record that knows exactly what it is and makes no apologies for it: rocking, melodic, and full of heart.
Produced and co-written by Veras & Sabu, the album delivers all the fist-pumping choruses and arena-ready hooks you’d expect, but there’s depth here too. The title track, co-written with the late Frankie Banali (of Quiet Riot fame), hits especially hard – not just as an anthem, but as a tribute to rock’s enduring soul. You can feel the sweat and sincerity in every note.
‘Can’t Stop The Rock’ is an unapologetically retro Melodic Rock / AOR album in the best way. In a different era—say the golden age of the ’80s—it would have been massive.
But even now, for fans of timeless Melodic Rock, this is a hidden gem that deserves your full attention. Veras and Sabu have crafted something passionate, powerful, and deeply enjoyable. Let’s hope they keep the music coming—because when it sounds this good, we’re all hungry for more…

JAILHOUSE – Demos-1989-1990 [FnA Records remaster] (2025) *0dayrox Exclusive*

Sunset Strip melodic hard rockers JAILHOUSE have a “new” album titled ”Demos 1989-1990” that has just been released via FnA Records, cleaned and remastered, and we’re featuring it in exclusive at 0dayrox.
These tapes were provided by the band’s A&R Criss Silva, and sound quality is excellent.
In the 80s and early 90s, the day and age of the Compact Disc, the Walkman, and MTV, Hard Rock hair bands reigned supreme over the airwaves. All over the place, everywhere you looked and everywhere you listened, they were there – The movies, The magazines, The advertisements, and so much more.
So when a band releases an album – the local fans take notice, when you sell 20,000 units – the majors take notice – but when you sell north of 400,000 units, and you do it without the help of a major label – this is something of an anomaly. This was Jailhouse!
Jailhouse, whose primary lineup included members of huge bands Ratt and Rough Cutt were: Michael Raphael – guitar, Matt Thorr – bass, Danny Simon – vocals, Dave Alford – drums, Amir Derakh – guitar. The band was active from about 1988-1991. The demos featured here on ”Demos 1989-1990” are very well written, recorded and produced – classic melodic hard rock from the American lineage.
You saw it here first at 0dayrox

GREGG ALEXANDER – Michigan Rain (1989) *HQ* RARE

The chances are you’ve heard singer / songwriter GREGG ALEXANDER’s songs thousands of times over the years as he’s written for the likes of Rod Stewart, The Struts, Gerri Halliwell, Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Ronan Keating, and Santana with whom he won a Grammy award for the song, ‘Game Of Love’. Alexander’s later found success too as frontman of pop-rockers New Radicals.
But back in the Eighties when he released this, “Michigan Rain“, his debut album on A&M Records, he couldn’t get arrested – yeah, Gregg wrote most of the songs when he was 16, and at the time of recording, 19-year-old.
With the likes of Michael Landau on guitar, Kenny Aronoff on drums, Maria Vidal & Sandy Stewart on backing vocals, and other super talented sessions musicians playing in “Michigan Rain”, we have here a really good 1989 album of American Rock with unusual lyrics / themes, but a melodic rock heart beating beneath its exterior.
Despite Alexander’s later success in the music business, ”Michigan Rain” was taken out of print when he was dropped from A&M, and has long been rare and out of print. A used CD copy is being sold at Amazon for U$D 260…

MISS VELVET – Triptych (2025) *HQ*

Originally from New York, MISS VELVET has been around music since she was a child when her mom used to take her to musicals, concerts, and the opera. Enriching experiences, it seemed like the music infectiously spread through her, and soon, Miss Velvet was born. After years of plugging away with her band, full of aspirations, an opportunity to open for the legendary George Clinton and Parliament Funkadelic presented itself in 2018. Exciting, soon Miss Velvet attracted broader attention with her powerful and soulful Rock-n-Roll voice.
Applying the ups and downs of everything to the music that made up the debut album two years ago, Miss Velvet now takes a bold step forward with her new EP ‘‘Triptych”. Released through Miss Velvet’s own Mother Ride Records via The Orchard / Sony, the latest release is more than music—it is a cinematic concept piece that engages the senses.
Broken into three parts, Miss Velvet confesses that ”Triptych” tells the story of betrayal, transformation, and self-liberation. There are seven tracks (three of which act as interludes between the movements), all full of raw Rock-n-Roll emotion.
Honestly, it feels like something a Classic Rock band from yesteryear, like Led Zeppelin or The Who might have recorded because they clearly distinguish between the songs and purpose. Quite inviting and old-fashioned yet modern and daring simultaneously, it is safe to say Miss Velvet took a chance with ”Triptych” and has found success…

V.A. – We Still Rock… The World [CD version +3] (2025) HQ *0dayrox Exclusive* feat. Robbie LaBlanc, Frank Vestry, Erik Martensson, M. Bormann

A few days ago we featured “We Still Rock – The Compilation”, released back in 2016 via Tanzan Music, which has become a praised collectors’ item quickly sold-out in its CD format. Now 2025, after almost nine years, the long-awaited follow-up, “We Still Rock . . . The World” – is finally here!
Her we have in exclusive at 0dayrox the actual CD version including 3 Bonus Tracks exclusive to CD format.
The new chapter is a collection of sought-after material for melodic rock aficionados, featuring unreleased songs and alternate versions of known tracks from several respected Italian melodic rock artists.
Artists such as Soul Seller, Room Experience, StreetLore, Mindfeels, Firesky & Night Pleasure Hotel, are already part of the Art Of Melody Music’s roster. Joining them in this release are international projects, Kastadian, No Limits, Füel For Tunes, Broken Carillon and Laneslide.
All these feature international (The World) guest stars, Toby Hitchcock (Kastadian), Robbie LaBlanc & Stefano Lionetti (No Limits), Frank Vestry, Erik Martensson, Bruce Gaitsch, Michael Bormann & Bruno Kraler (Laneslide), Gianluca Firmo (Broken Carillon) and Alessandro Del Vecchio & Pierpaolo “Zorro” Monti (Füel For Tunes.)
“We Still Rock . . . The World” also marks the official comeback of the fan favorite Shining Line AOR project after fifteen years, with a brand new song, set to remain exclusive to this compilation.
Check out the video-track below to taste the quality of…

ALDO NOVA – Blood On The Bricks [Japanese Edition +1] RARE

As requested, here’s the very hard to find ALDO NOVA album “Blood On The Bricks +1” in its Japanese edition. This is the fourth studio album by Canadian Aldo Nova, for which he signed to Jon Bon Jovi’s Jambco Records and co-write most the songs and helped with production. There’s also songwriting contribution from Jim Vallance (Bryan Adams).
“Blood On The Bricks” (1991) was Nova’s first album in 6 years after the radio-friendly ‘Twich’, and some kind of a comeback to his melodic hard rock roots. A kickin’ rockin’ record it is indeed, and the Japan bonus track is a great addition.
“Blood On The Bricks” sounds very 1991: big production, multi-track layers, huge backing vocals, catchy choruses and Nova’s guitar playing all over it. Indeed, Aldo proves on several tracks that he is a burnin’ axeman, and he even takes a brief keyboard solo on “Bright Lights”.
Song highlights for me include the burning title track, the racing “Bright Lights”, and the nod to Aldo’s ’80s moments like “Touch Of Madness”, “Young Love” or the catchy “Medicine Man”. There’s a strong ballad too, “Hey Ronnie (Veronica’s Song)”, quite Bon Jovi-esque in nature. Love the melodic Japan bonus track too…

BEAR BONE COMPANY – Events of Life Pt.1 (2025) HQ *Exclusive*

Well, you gotta give it to them: Swedish rockers BEAR BONE COMPANY sport a swagger that lets them strut about the scene to a point that they risk stumbling over some of their body parts. When I saw their somewhat meager, but decidedly juicy bio, I thought this better be THAT good. And you know what? It is.
The band joins us from Örebro in Sweden but brandishes a real Californian heavy rock look and feel. That groovy, scratchy sound that just calls out for feisty bikes and leather boots – all that you’ll hear on their new record “Events of Life Pt.1“.
The Bear Bone Company does have its eternal hunting grounds somewhere in the ’80s and deeply buried in its Hard and Heavy Rock. By and large, their record is a wild mix of things. As said, their rock n’ roll is groovy, with huge (and very well produced / recorded) drums, and thick guitars.
They got crunch, they got power, they got riffs. Stellar solos at every corner of their universe. They got pretty good pipes at work from the lead singer, reaching quite stellar heights. Yet it is down ‘n’ dirty Heavy Rock of the whiskey-fueled type as they claim, no doubt. And they write darn good songs too…

CIRCU5 – Clockwork Tulpa [CD only release] (2025) *HQ*

First, let’s get this UK band’s name out the way. “Circu5” is pronounced “circa five,” according to the group. This is their second album. Actually, it’s more like their first album, because the debut from 2017 featured only founder Steve Tilling.
Titled “Clockwork Tulpa“, on this album CIRCU5 blends prog and classic rock influences with evocative songwriting and storytelling. A collection of frenetic, high energy compositions with delicious and catchy hooks and a sound that it’s progressive, but pop-melodic at the same time, with some early It Bites and ’80s rock on it.
On ”Clockwork Tulpa” Tilling is responsible for lead vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, and keyboards. He’s joined by Mark Kilminster on bass and backing vocals and Lee Moulding on drums, percussion, and backing vocals, whose collective interplay brings both technical precision and emotional depth to every passage. The album also has a handful of guest performers…