Johan Kihlberg’s IMPERA are releasing the new live CD “Scandinavium Alive” via Metalville Records. Ever since he heard “Kiss Alive” for the first time in 1975, Johan has been a huge fan of the famous masked band, and everything he did professionally later on, has always revolved around KISS somehow. For example, he worked for Polygram Records in the 80s and 90s and got to know the guys from Kiss during that time. At that time he was also asked to lead their fan club. Later, Johan Kihlberg toured with Vinnie Vincent and had some guest appearances with Bruce Kulick, who also played on the Impera debut “Legacy of Life” in 2012.
After the announcement that KISS would be coming to Europe for some shows in 2020, it was all too understandable that Johan Kihlberg immediately tried to get his band Impera to support him at a show in Sweden. And indeed, just one week later, they were confirmed as special guests at the Kiss show in Gothenburg.
But then Corona came and the concerts were put on hold. On 22.06.2022 the time had finally come and Johan Kilhberg’s Impera entered the stage of the sold-out Scandinavium Arena in Gothenburg.
The result is the hot rocking “Scandinavium Alive”, a terrific, impressive crunchy live melodic hard rock album plenty of huge riffs, big drums and ‘stadium’ vocals. All sound polished in the best Scandinavian tradition…

Universal Music is releasing “Mirage (2023 Remastered & Remixed Expanded Edition)“, a really good reissue of CAMEL 1974’s album. The package include the original ‘Mirage’ remastered, a buch of unreleased recordings from the sessions, and a New 2023 Remix of ‘Mirage’.
The original album sounds better then never and there’s very nice unheard early versions / outtakes, but we think the star of this reissue is the 2023 Remix, which turned ‘Mirage’ punchier, ‘bassier’, much more ‘updated.’ They’re definitely worth a listen. They don’t replace the original mixes, but they are absolutely enjoyable.
After a promising debut LP, ‘Mirage’ is the album that brought Camel into focus, and saw take their unique prog brilliance to a new level…

Since the release of their self-titled debut album in 2019, Los Angeles-based quartet PATTERN-SEEKING ANIMALS have been one of the prog rock scene’s most prolific outfits. Now, only a year since their previous effort, the band return with their new album ”Spooky Action at a Distance”, an eclectic melodic masterpiece with captivating lyrical narratives, from a Norse king’s introspection to a pregnant teenager’s quest for freedom, guaranteeing a captivating musical journey.
”Spooky Action at a Distance” finds Pattern-Seeking Animals more confident than ever approaching new soundscapes and topics, combined with the DNA of their previous work for their most memorable, melodic delivery, artsy, modern rock&pop yet with classic feeling throughout…

Steve Overland is a legend in his own lifetime. Is there anyone out there who is not familiar with his name? He has a history that goes way back into the late Seventies, his first major recording was with the band Wildlife in 1980. After the demise of Wildlife, Steve went on to form the cult British melodic rock band FM, a band that released many great albums throughout the years and they are still going strong to this very day.
Steve originally teamed up with Escape Music for the release of his solo work with his own band OVERLAND, now counting 6 albums with the new “S·I·X” appeared today. This man can just seemingly continue to give us breathtakingly good songs and with great songwriting, now helped by talented Swede Robert Säll (Work Of Art), who also play guitars & keyboards.
Steve Overland just gets better, and this latest recording has been hailed as his finest to date…

BERNIE TORME became guitarist for Ian Gillan’s new venture, GILLIAN, in 1978. Bernie’s guitar histrionics were the perfect foil. Gillan’s new solo band saw the singer enjoy his biggest solo successes across four hit albums, numerous singles and appearing before millions of viewers on Top Of The Pops.
After eventually jumping ship in 1981, Bernie released his debut solo album, ‘Turn Out The Lights’ to chart success the following year. Bernie was joined by Phil Spalding on bass and vocals, Saxon’s Nigel Glockler and Mark Harrison on drums and Gillan’s Colin Towns on keyboards and flute. Bernie released his second solo album ‘Electric Gypsies’ in 1983 produced by himself and Stephen Stewart.
Now Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Records are releasing ”Lightning Strikes (1982-1983)” a 4-CD box set including both studio albums remastered inclusing bonus tracks, plus two live albums showcasing Bernie’s incendiary playing…

Alongside the fresh 2023 remaster of JOURNEY‘s gem ‘Frontiers”, Columbia/Legacy is releasing today “Only the Young (Steve Perry & Bryce Miller Remix)“, a 4 track EP with a new 2023 remix of the song, also including ‘Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) (Steve Perry & Bryce Miller Extended Remix)’ which was used for the TV show ‘Stranger Things’, but now extended.
There’s also the original version of ‘Only the Young’ and the awesome AOR tune ‘Ask the Lonely’ (back in the day featured in the film Two of a Kind and its respective soundtrack), all remastered.
“Only the Young” was written by Jonathan Cain, Steve Perry and Neal Schon. Previously intended for Journey’s 1983 album Frontiers, it was pulled from the album within days of recording in favor of songs “Back Talk” and “Troubled Child”.
It was then sold to the band Scandal, who released it in 1984 on their album Warrior, as the first commercially released version of the song. Journey’s version was included on the soundtrack to the 1985 film Vision Quest, and was also released as a single which reached the top 10 of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100…

FREAKSHOW’s debut album was a super-group featuring Miss Crazy’s Ronnie Borchert, Cinderella’s Jeff LaBar, Quiet Riot’s Frankie Banali, and Tony Franklin (Blue Murder, Whitesnake). Originally appeared 2009, the record was reissued a couple years ago by Eonian Records whom signed the band for a new LP.
It took more than two decades for FREAKSHOW to record their second album “So Shall It Be“, but well worth the wait. LaBar & Banali sadly passed away, so for this new era of the band Borchert enlisted new musicians – as happened with the first album, all top notch players.
For FREAKSHOW 2023 Ronnie Borchert brings together friends Carlos Cavazo on guitar (Snow, Quiet Riot, Ratt), Greg Chaisson on bass (Badlands, Atomic Kings), and Stet Howland on drums (Impellitteri, W.A.S.P., Metal Church) to record the brand-new album “So Shall It Be.”
Different players, yet another output of amazing, hook-filled, blazing rock ‘n’ roll!

Remastered from the original stereo master tapes, Sony Legacy Recordings is about to release ”Frontiers (40th Anniversary Remastered)”, the iconic JOURNEY album from 1983.
Certified 6x Platinum and including the hits “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”, “Faithfully” and “Send Her My Love”, the album not only put JOURNEY at the top of rock charts but the band on the pedestal of one of the greatest AOR / melodic hard rock bands of all time.
This fresh 2023 remaster is simply awesome, crystal clear, defined…

American hard rockers RED REIGN follow up their 2021 EP with their debut full-length album “Don’t Look Back“, promising to bring back the ’80s feeling and steer them in a modern direction. The 4-piece influences reach far and wide – from ’80s hair metal through AOR and more than a little ’70s classic rock.
On this first album all is done in fine style and more than a little spirit. Produced by Grammy nominated David Ivory (Halestorm, The Roots) the band sounds tight, confident. Title track is a highlight, featuring as guest talented George Lynch dropping some great soloing elevating the song.
‘Here I Am’ continues with catchiness having a very effective and commercial chorus with a slight Danger Danger feel. The similarly styled “Follow Your Heart” once again has an instant sounding chorus, this time more sleazy in the American way…

Legendary American hard rockers DOKKEN will release their 13th studio album, “Heaven Comes Down“, on October 27 via Silver Lining Music. The follow-up to 2012’s “Broken Bones” was produced by Bill Palmer and Don Dokken and was mixed by famed Kevin Shirley (AEROSMITH, IRON MAIDEN).
Don Dokken knows his voice ain’t what it used to be, and he wants fans to take note. “It’s like a motor car. It’s getting worn out,” the 70-year-old singer said in 2023. “If I can’t sing the way they remember me, then just don’t come to the show. I’ve got no problem with that.” True to his word, the piercing high notes of yesteryear are nowhere to be found on ”Heaven Comes Down”. But does it even matter?
With ‘Heaven Comes Down‘ Don shows he is aware of his limits and plays to his strengths, never over-exerting beyond his capabilities. While it does not reach the heights of ‘Lightning Strikes Again‘, it is way better than ‘Broken Bones‘. This is an album that he and the band can be proud of and will please long-time fans.
There is a chance that this could likely be the last Dokken album. If it is, he went out with his head held high.
A great capper to a tremendous career…

Mötley Crüe and BMG have announced the 40th anniversary celebration of the group’s landmark second album ”Shout At The Devil”, declaring this the Year Of The Devil with a multi-configuration slate of releases including the albums centerpiece limited edition super deluxe boxset featuring the newly remastered album on LP, CD, Cassette, and more – all set to be released October 27, 2023 by BMG.
In addition to the album remastered, Shout At The Devil [40th Anniversary] includes rare demo tracks from the era have been resurrected and are included as Shout At The Demos & Rarities.
Originally released in 1983 at the height of the ‘Satanic Panic’, ”Shout At The Devil” catapulted Mötley Crüe to superstardom. Delivering on the hype and promise of their Platinum-certified debut, Too Fast For Love, Mötley Crüe’s second album hit the Top 20 in the US and has been certified 4X Platinum.
For many music fans, ”Shout At The Devil” was the first time they witnessed an album with this imagery and lyrical content on mainstream retail shelves…

Swedish Metal band SORCERER origins date from the ’80s, reformed in 2014. There has been several line up changes and now the band enlists renowned musicians from the scene, namely guitarist Kristian Niemann (ex Therion), new drummer Stefan Norgren (Prog Metallers Seventh Wonder) and wonderful vocalist of Anders Engberg (Lion’s Share).
”Reign of the Reaper” is the new SORCERER album, and whilst there are still plenty of Black Sabbath doomy throughout the record, they have really taken their overall style into an epic, powerful melodic metal direction.
Sorcerer are unrelentingly, fabulously heavy, but also possess a melodic edge that the guitar lines and Engberg’s excellent vocals drive home with both force and subtlety. The singer incidentally has never sounded as confident and accomplished as he does with Sorcerer, carrying every vocal line and melody with utter conviction and professionalism, crowning the band as the class act that they clearly are…

Swedish Hard Rockers BONAFIDE are finally back in business with their new album ”Are You Listening?”. This is the band’s first studio album since 2017´s Flames, and not only are they back, they are back with a vengeance. Every single one of the ten new tracks shows a band that once again are on fire.
It’s pure high-energy uncompromising riff-driven hard rock on a level that very few which very few other bands can match. The album is produced by Chips Kiesbye (Hellacopters, Backyard Babies) and the song “Snacket” features a duet with Nisse Hellberg from the legendary Swedish band Wilmer X.
A pulsing bass line opens the album on the title track with a gang vocal not too dissimilar to ‘Thunderstruck’. ‘’You got such a pretty face, the way you use it is just a disgrace’’ – now there’s a lyric! The guitars already sound a little harder edged and the song comes across with real menace. The gang chant means this will be a real live favorite…

RUFFYUNZ (Ruffians) is a partnership between bassist Randy Pratt (Cactus / The Lizards), Emmy winning engineer / guitarist JZ Barrell, and powerhouse singer Ed Terry (Slash, Keith Richards, David Lee Roth band) – plus a collection of drum, guitar and keyboard masters.
Guest artists featured on the band’s new album “RUFFYUNZ III” starts with legendary Carmine Appice who dominates the drums, plus Bumblefoot Thal (Sons of Apollo), Tony Franklin (The Firm), Dave Meniketti (Y&T), Pat Travers, Pat Thrall, Jim McCarty (Cactus), Vinnie Moore (UFO), Derek Sherinian (Sons of Apollo), Tracy G (DIO), Billy “Spaceman” Patterson (Miles Davis) and others. These seasoned, “seen it all” cats really step up and put their mojo into these tracks.
Having the bassist Randy Pratt – especially with his unique, other worldly effects pedal sounds – be the co-producer of this heavy-riff classic rock album, definitely gives the music a “thick richness”. An authentic “old-school” low end bottom bassist & music producer who has true passion for real rock n’ roll and who was born to rock the groove…