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Legendary rockers FOREIGNER are releasing a new CD; “Live in Chicago“. First question is; do we need another Foreigner live album? Well, in fact, this isn’t a new live album – this is the 2011 concert previously only released on DVD and then BluRay.
2025 is the first time that “Live in Chicago” is being released on CD, and it’s nice because this is a really good show. We have here the complete 13-track set and a slightly different, new cover art. The CD only will be available in Europe for the moment.
Foreigner delivered a pretty electrifying 85-minute set that night in front of an enthusiastic crowd at the Arcada Theatre in St. Charles, Illinois. The live album delivers a firework of Foreigner classics such as “Urgent”, “I Want to Know What Love Is”, “Cold As Ice”, “Double Vision” and “Juke Box Hero”.
The band sounds energetic with quality performances from all, with Kelly Hansen delivering a strong vocal performance. Sound quality is excellent, and while obviously post-processed, this recording feels really ‘live’…

Good old Herman Ze German! He is still kicking around making the occasional record. Herman Rarebell, the drummer of Scorpions from 1977 to 1996, was a clever guy. As one of the only members in the band who spoke English at the time, he wrote/translated most of the lyrics. He was a clever businessman and he made sure that credit was given where credit was due and made sure he was compensated accordingly.
Now he has the financial freedom to do what he wants while he waits for a fat, publishing royalty cheque to come in every time a radio station or commercial plays ‘Rock You Like A Hurricane’.
On “What About Love?“, HERMAN RAREBELL & FRIENDS take you back to the ’80s and together we return to our very time with the greatest music of this powerful decade. Herman has chosen 12 classic songs to make his own versions with good friends and great musicians as a tribute to the greatest hits of a time that was a golden age for him personally.
Former Ozzy bassist Bob Daisley can be heard on this album, as well as Dann Huff, who was a studio musician on some of the greatest albums in rock&pop history, as well as Howard Leese from the legendary U.S. rockers Heart and singer Michael Voss (Casanova, Michael Schenker)…

Nowadays a lot of people say that classic Melodic Rock and AOR are a nostalgic thing, only a leftover from the Eighties. But there are many young bands these days that prove the opposite. One of them is STRATEGY, a rising star in the genre, formed in Munich by guitarists Lennard “Lenny” Hammerer and Jakob Struve. Having found the perfect bandmates, STRATEGY delivers catchy and creative songs with an authentic and timeless production, warming every heart that beats for 80s Rock.
”Love Tactics”, their self-produced debut album out soon via Metalapolis Records, will show people that this kind of music can be played fresh and up-to-date without sounding old-fashioned or too modern. The album is made for people who have loved this music for 40 years as well as for younger fans who are discovering this sound today.
Besides their love for 80s Melodic Arena Rock, the young members of the band, who weren’t born when this music was at its commercial peak, are also into Prog Rock. Their cover of the YES classic “Into The Lens” fits perfectly with th rest of the material…

Hardly any other new band has been able to stir up as much dust in the power metal scene in recent years with their first three albums as the Saarbrücken and Stockholm-based formation MENTALIST.
Their upcoming fourth album on Pride & Joy Music, entitled ”Earthbreaker”, is a little heavier than its predecessors, still melodic-catchy. Both guitarists Kai Stringer and Peter Moog embellish the compositions in an enchanting way with their virtuoso guitar playing, while the intensity of the hooklines and the exceptional vocals of Rob Lundgren give you goose bumps. Thomen‘s drumming magnetizes with an animalistic impulse. With Oliver Palotai (Kamelot) and Mike LePond (Symphony X), MENTALIST once again received active support on keyboards and bass.
”Earthbreaker” is perhaps remarkable for what it does NOT include. It is does NOT have a gimmick, superhero costumes, novelty cover tunes, electronics, or operatics or goofy lyrics about dinosaurs, ninjas, pirates or Vikings. MENTALIST play straight up, full-on power / melodic metal. It’s almost refreshing these days!

2025 marks a new chapter for symphonic metal innovators EPICA, with the release of their 9th studio album titled “Aspiral“. For more than 20 years now, Epica have been standing tall. And while already their last efforts clearly showcased their commitment to the game, it is “Aspiral” that truly distills the very heart of their trademark sound.
It’s still the same kind of epic, theatrical symphonic metal fans have come to expect, with all the expected elements, such as a big focus on orchestral elements and choirs, heavy guitar work, and plenty of catchy, melodic sections where Simone Simons takes over with her always beautiful and fantastic lead vocals. There’s also some speedy power metal sections, and a few more complex and progressive tracks.
However, I’d say the approach and structure of the album is a tad different, compared to normal. Unlike any of their past LPs, “Aspiral” is more song-focused. There’s a good amount of variety, with some heavier tracks, some lighter, more melodic songs, and obviously the three lengthier tracks are more complex, as well as being some of the most classic Epica sounding tracks the band has done in quite a while…

Hailing from Switzerland, the home of many famous Hard Rock bands such as Krokus, Gotthard, Shakra, etc, add to that list ROCK-OUT: four men, their instruments, enough electricity – and off they go! ROCK-OUT are pure attitude without any frills.
Is this due to their roots in the Emmental – a region where people prefer to do things rather than talk big? Or simply because of their love of rock – raw, direct, straightforward and wonderfully melodic, just as great bands have celebrated it since Florian Badetscher (git, vox), Luca Gfeller (bass), David Bärtschi (dr) and Severin Held (git) may not even have existed as their parents’ wet dream? It doesn’t really matter.
More importantly, four men have come together to indulge in the most powerful passion of all: music – timeless, international and still pure ‘Swiss rock’. The only question that needs to be answered: wow the heck is it that Florian has been blessed with such an unbelievably great voice at such a young age? No net, no double bottom – just a heavy foot on the gas, the pointer fully on the twelve and off you go: that’s ROCK-OUT.
If there are still people out there who think ‘rock is dead’… wake up, ROCK-OUT are on their campaign to prove the opposite. Powerful, accomplished, full of energy, ballsy songs is what you get with “Let’s Call It Rock ‘n’ Roll“, their upcoming new album on Frontiers Music…

As requested, here’s one of the most beloved Melodic Rock / AOR bands from the 70s / 80s: CHARLIE. The London, England band released a string of wonderful albums during the second half of the Seventies, and at the dawn of the next decade they embraced a more mainstream ‘Americanized sound’.
CHARLIE 1983’s self-titled album “Charlie” featured the hit single ”It’s Inevitable”, however, the LP failed to replicate this success – Polydor / Mirage didn’t properly promoted the album – leading to the band’s dissolution.
But CHARLIE still had a contractual obligation with the record label, and as songwriter / guitarist Terry Thomas was working on a solo album, both parts decided to put out the recordings under the CHARLIE banner.
Released in 1986, entitled “In Pursuit Of Romance“, this was the last CHARLIE record to come out from their decade long run in the ’70s and ’80s. This is in fact a Terry Thomas solo album, helped by some competent session musicians.
According to the era, “In Pursuit Of Romance” is utterly ‘1986’, with easy melodies, radio friendly choruses and an overall ‘soundtrack feeling’. Any of these songs coud have ended into any movie from the era, from lyrics to sound.
As requested, here’s the very good Canadian remastered CD reissue done by Unidisc Music in a gatefold card-sleeve wallet. There’s other reissue by Renaissance Records but the sound quality is pretty poor. This Unidisc remaster is the real deal.
Pure Eighties stuff!

”Time To Fly” is the final chapter in ten glorious years of CATFISH‘s legacy. This is the final album from the English band recorded with singer, songwriter & guitarist Matt Long who lost his bravely fought battle with cancer at age 29 in November of 2024.
Remaining members Paul Long (Matt’s father, and keyboardist / vocalist in the band), Adam Pyke (bass), and Phil Wilson (drums), made the decision to carry on in the completion of this final LP, comprised one half of the music that they were working on in the studio until Matt passed away, and the other half is from recordings discovered a few moths ago. It contains two unfinished songs, and two that were recorded live, where Matt Long’s vocals were isolated and used on the studio cuts we hear here.
If you never heard CATFISH, this band play blues-rock, with emphasis in rock – on the uptempo tracks there’s a huge groove as well. ”Time To Fly” has a big sound, something that CATFISH had established from the get-go. The hard rockiness of Matt’s guitar playing and his vocals twinned with the Blues side of Paul, a perfect combination.
Two songs that Matt had demoed on his computer, ‘Sick Of It All’, and ‘Say The Word’, are the most intense and profoundly moving songs of the album. The sheer emotion pouring through Matt’s guitar and vocals with the rest of the band bringing up the rear, is as close to perfection from a musical standpoint as you are ever likely to get.
This final album from CATFISH is the finest bunch of songs they have ever written. It will serve as a musical memorial for Matt, but overall, it will mark the band as a force of nature, a Blues/Rock powerhouse…

Some of you requested ‘Greatest Hits’, the collection of re-worked ’80s hits recorded by DOKKEN a few years ago, more specifically its Japan version featuring 2 bonus tracks. As the Japanese release turned out of print, this reissue by UK label Store For Music under the new title “The Anthems” is the one to get, as it’s exactly like the Japanese (but with a new cover artwork and digipak case).
On this album you’ll find ten of the greatest hits from Dokken. These have been re-recorded with the new line-up at the time and I am pleased to say all are terrific. Jon Levin is monster of a guitarist and Don sounds great in my opinion.
So we can enjoy classic Dokken tunes like “Just Got Lucky”, “Breaking The Chains”, “Into The Fire” and “Unchain The Night”. Even “In My Dreams” and “Alone Again” – perhaps the more harder to re-create – come out greatly. It’s on the speedy “Tooth and Nail” where is more noticeable Don’s struggle to hit the original high vocal notes, but the groove in the arrangement provides a refreshing new take on the song.
The overall resulting sound of these classic songs is a bit more punchier than the originals, and although Jon Levin has a guitar set-up and playing similar to Lynch, he still adds a little touch of his own flair all over.
“The Anthems” has also 4 new songs to offer, and all are juicy…

As requested, here’s one of the most beloved Melodic Rock / AOR bands from the 70s / 80s: CHARLIE. The London, England band released a string of wonderful albums during the second half of the Seventies, and at the dawn of the next decade they embraced a more ‘Americanized sound’.
CHARLIE 1983’s self-titled album “Charlie” is considered a pillar in Eighties AOR music. As requested, here’s the pretty rare Canadian remastered reissue done by Unidisc Music in a gatefold card-sleeve wallet. There’s other reissue by Renaissance Records but the sound quality is pretty poor.
This Unidisc remaster is the real deal. And we have as bonus track the ‘Long Version’ of the awesome song ”It’s Inevitable”, an all-time AOR classic.
Produced by experts Kevin Beamish (Stan Bush, REO Speedwagon) and Terry Thomas (Giant, Tommy Shaw, ’80s Bad Company), both provided to “Charlie” that gloss needed for the U.S. market. And of course, behind those synths and huge choruses, there’s great songs too.
You just can’t believe this album wasn’t a big seller and CHARLIE super-stars at the time. Every song has a hit potential. While the video for “It’s Inevitable” got a fair amount of air time on MTV, Polydor / Mirage didn’t properly managed to get the band on the radio. In 1983 a rock band needed radio airplay, and “Charlie” didn’t receive any.
Anyway, “Charlie” is a lovely ’80s collection of songs, and a classic among AOR / Melodic Rock fans…

With our recent post about rockers POISON album reissue, many of you asked for their early 80s LPs, and we think this special release will grace your collections.
Madacy Entertainment and EMI Music Special Markets released this “Collector’s Edition“, an awesome POISON 3-disc set housed in a wonderful tin case featuring the band’s hits and selected ‘inside tracks’, including a great booklet with rare photos and a cool essay with the band’s history.
This was a limited edition, released in North America only. A “Collector’s Edition” indeed.
The track-list covers all POISON albums between 1986 and 2000, which include ‘Look What the Cat Dragged In’, ‘Open Up and Say Ahh’, ‘Flesh & Blood’, ‘Swallow this Live’, ‘Native Tongue’, ‘The Greatest Hits’ and ‘Crack a Smile’. All songs remastered.
It may not be the ’80s anymore, but the music of POISON is still as feel-good as ever. So while the ‘hair’ may be gone from your head, it isn’t from your ears for sure!

After yesterday’s 0dayrox feature of THE PRESIDENT second album ‘Muscles’ remastered, many of you asked for the band’s first album 1983’s “By Appointment Of“, and now we have here in exclusive as well the recent remastered reissue, the Korean CD pressing. This reissue appeared in Japan too, released by the same label that did ‘Muscles’.
Formed in 1982 by members of the Dutch melodic progressive band KAYAK, Okikie Huysdens on Lead & Backing Vocals, Keyboards, and keyboardist Pim Koopman (later Valensia and others), with THE PRESIDENT the duo was looking a more FM radio sound, smooth melodic sounds mixing AOR with a West Coast flavor.
Immediately CBS saw enormous potential on the material and debut LP “By Appointment Of (The President)” was released all over Europe and Japan. Two singles did it very well on the radio, which lead to the album to being released in the USA and Canada the next year.
“By Appointment Of” is a wonderful AOR, rock&pop album with an impressive production – nothing to envy to the L.A. Session crew of the time. While a WestCoast AOR smoothness impregnate some of the songs creating sublime atmospheres, most of the album is joyful upbeat material.
This album is one of the must-item for fans of the genre, difficult to obtain but now available again with a pristine remastered sound quality…

As requested, here’s the really good second and final album from American melodic hard rockers ILLUSION, 1986’s “I Like It Loud“. Despite being released by major label Geffen / Warner, it’s a shame “I Like It Loud” never has been reissued on CD, nor digital.
This is a stupendous vinyl-rip done by the 0dayrox team – we believe it is unlikely that you will be able to find a better sounding version of “I Like It Loud” out there. And what about the music? ILLUSION played a driving radio-friendly brand of American melodic hard rock rich in melody and catchy hooks. Think early Night Ranger, Wrabit, perhaps a bit of Heavy Pettin’.
“I Like It Loud” is killer record in this genre, with some edge here and there but extremely polished thanks to the super production from expert Jeff Glixman (Black Sabbath, Kansas, Saraya).
Hailing from Atlanta, Georgia, ILLUSION comprised excellent, seasoned musicians, like guitarist Moses (Mother’s Finest), his brother singer Jay Willard (a vocalist with a distinctive color) and legendary drummer Bobby Chouinard (Gary Moore, Ted Nugent, Billy Squier, and more).
These guys were good, very good, and while backed by a big label and with a promising future, something cracked in the ILLUSION headquarters and the band broke up after this LP. All members continued in the business with pretty successful careers.
You will love “I Like It Loud”…

As requested, here’s in exclusive at 0dayrox the long-awaited, first ever remastered reissue of THE PRESIDENT 1985’s second album “Muscles“, a cult classic among Lite AOR / Hi-Tech AOR fans out there. For years impossible to find, this Japanese reissue CD comes in a paper sleeve / mini-LP replica.
The President was formed by members of the Dutch progressive band KAYAK, Okikie Huysdens on Lead & Backing Vocals, Keyboards, and keyboardist Pim Koopman (later worked for Valensia). They released their first album in 1983 which became popular as an AOR album with a West Coast flavor.
According to times, for this sophomore LP musically THE PRESIDENT added a more mainstream sound & production, AOR album with a more rock-oriented hard pop sound with fast Hi-tech beats, 80s sharp guitars, sparkling keyboards, and spontaneous smooth vocals. You know… ‘that mid-80s sound‘ we all love.
AOR connoisseurs have THE PRESIDENT’s “Muscles” into their lists, but many fans of the genre never heard this little gem, a joyful melodic record that radiates infectious energy. With its upbeat rhythms, catchy melodies, and the duo’s distinctive vocals, each track is a nostalgic journey through the vibrant soundscape of the era.
A welcomed reissue and pristine remastered reissue.
You saw it here first at 0dayrox

RUSS BALLARD is simply one of the most renowned and gifted songwriters in Rock&pop music. During the ’70s and ’80s his songs ruled the airwaves and the list of hits is pretty much endless. From ‘Since You Been Gone’ (Rainbow) and ‘God Gave Rock’n’Roll To You’ (Argent and KISS), to ‘You Can Do Magic’ (America) or ‘New York Groove’ (Ace Frehley) – just to name a few – everyone who needed a great song knew that with Russ Ballard they could not go wrong.
Numerous records / artists were also produced by Ballard, like Roger Daltrey, America, Skindred, etc, and he started a solo career (after his stint with the band Argent in early 70s) in 1974 which had its highest momentum with the “S/t” album in 1984 (which included the awesome hit single “Voices”) and the follow up “The Fire Still Burns”.
Russ Ballard released a total of 10 studio albums and is now back with two albums in one: “Songs from the Warehouse / The Hits Rewired”, to be released by Frontiers Music soon. The first album is made up of new songs which show once again that the inspiration never left Russ. The second includes brand new recordings of Russ Ballard hits either penned or performed by him during the years. You just need to look at the titles and will immediately recognize the track.
As advance Ballard is releasing the EP ”Courageous”, including the brand new song, the title track, a powerful melodic rocker full of magic. Also included is Russ’ own version of the classics “Since You’ve Been Gone”, “God Gave Rock and Roll to You”, and ‘New York Groove’. Completing the EP there’s another new track; the anthemic ‘Resurrection’.
Legends don’t fade. Can wait for the full albums…