Formed in 2016, Stockholm-by-way-of-London power rockers THE RIVEN have carved a uniquely compelling place for themselves, drawing musical influence from a wide array of genres. Hard rock, old progressive, early heavy metal, and even simply rock ‘n’ roll itself. The quintet have forged their own path, displaying a sound fitting firmly within the late ’70’s and early ’80s.
After a complete listen to THE RIVEN’s new album “Visions Of Tomorrow” we ended with a deep, satisfied grin on our faces. That pure, powerful, intoxicating joy of true musical pleasure. The kind of moment that justifies why we fell in love with rock and heavy music in the first place. Why we’re still here, decades later, embracing it, supporting it, and celebrating all these fresh bands – like THE RIVEN – that emerge, pouring their heart and soul into this music, delivering the kind of raw, honest energy that still moves us.
Their music is a melting pot of hard rock, vintage progressive sounds, early heavy metal, and pure, unfiltered rock ‘n’ roll. This fearless approach leaves no stone unturned, weaving in lyrical themes that span from the rawness of everyday life to vivid fantasy landscapes, often merging the two. The result? A sound deeply rooted in the spirit of the late ’70s and early ’80s, yet pulsing with a fresh, modern vibrancy…

Pioneer U.S. Metal guitarist JACK STARR joins forces with Warlord / Alcatrazz vocalist Giles Lavery to unleash the sequel to Jack’s legendary 1984 solo debut album “Out Of The Darkness.
Almost four decades after that cult LP, the recording of “Out Of The Darkness II” finally crystallized. Jack previously said about the album, “This is the album I always hoped I would make, one that would be filled with power and glory but also melodic and passionate at the same time. This is the sequel to my 1984 album Out Of The Darkness, and it truly is a worthy successor that I believe will be embraced with the same affection that greeted the original. So yes, Out Of The Darkness Part II is here – Keep the metal burning.”
Rounding out the lineup is Gene Cooper on bass, ex- Manowar drummer Rhino, and newly appointed Warlord shredder Eric Juris on second guitar. Also featured on the album are guest appearances by Mark Zonder (Warlord, ex-Fates Warning) on drums and the awesome Jimmy Waldo (Alcatrazz, New England, Warlord) on keyboards.
With “Out Of The Darkness Part II”, Jack Starr returns with a fiery call to arms, blending classic Hard Rock / American Metal grit with a timeless message of freedom and resistance. It’s a record that channels decades of passion, struggle, and triumph into a bold new chapter…

We don’t feature too much Thrash Metal here except from the ‘four greats’, simply because in our humble opinion there isn’t too much interesting bands in the genre currently. Well, “Face The End“, the new CD from GAME OVER changed that. This is really well thought thrash metal, ‘listenable’, catchy.
With this album a new chapter begins for Game Over: turning into a five-piece act with the entrance of Danny on vocals and Leo on bass, the band aims to take its sound to the next level both in the studio and live. ‘Face The End’ is an album with a dual soul: a warning about the Western world’s critical state and a call to face challenges that often mark new beginnings.
The Game Over sound has reached new heights with heavier riffs transitioning from blistering fast sections to crushing mid-tempos and catchy breakdowns. Then anthemic gang choruses, and subtle synths parts create some eerie atmospheres inspired by ’70s and ’80s horror / slasher films, blending sheer intensity with haunting storytelling. Do you like early ’90s Megadeth? Better check out GAME OVER 2025…

Swedish metal band THE STORYTELLER return with their seventh full-length album, ”The Final Stand”, their first in over a decade. When everyone assumed they were done, the band is back 2025 in full force.
When we say ‘band’ it is a bit of a misnomer because as a one-man band, founder L.G. Persson seems to have changed members yet again. He has delivered a generous 13-song album that runs 65 minutes. After a protracted introduction featuring some orchestral sounds and some gentle acoustic guitar, we are launched into the Euro Power Metal stratosphere. The album races along the Metal highway as it should with excellent production and a nice mix in the instruments.
”The Final Stand” has some big backing gang vocals that help bolster the vocals of Persson. He does stay in the mid-ranges and had some nice grit and power in his delivery, but he is not an operatic style vocalist. He sings tales of epic battles, war and adventure in a high fantasy setting. Guitarist Cedrick Forsberg (Blazon Stone) plays to the song never too overstated or flashy. He had many decent solos and licks that match the style.
The whole album is characterized by good, straight-up Power Metal songs with melody…

Here’s in exclusive at 0dayrox the new Hear No Evil / Cherry Red Box Set “Screamin’ Down The House 1985-1988” from mighty rockers RAVEN, comprising 4 albums and an EP from the English band who were very much part of the NWOBHM movement of the late 1970s and early 1980s.
So here’s the thing about Raven. You either get it, or you’re one of the absent-minded person who think metal peaked with The Black Album. The world’s got no shortage of posers, but if you know, you know.
Raven were never ones to sit still. Too heavy for the mainstream, too wild for the purists, they tore through the ’80s like a runaway train – sometimes crashing, sometimes flying, but always moving.
”Screamin’ Down The House (1985-1988)” is a 4-CD testament to what happens when a band’s got the chops but the industry wants to dress them up in glitter. Yeah, it was 1985, and you needed to sound ‘glam metal’. While early fans of the band hate this second half of the ’80s Raven era, they produced some darn good albums and catchy songs.
On the first two discs we have ‘Stay Hard’ (1985) and ‘The Pack Is Back’ (1986) where the production’s cleaner than a dealer’s nose at a posh London club. But don’t let that fool you – underneath, the heart of Raven is still pounding like a speed freak’s pulse. Mad solos, hooks sharp enough to rip flesh, and moments of sheer unhinged joy. We love these albums, especially ‘Stay Hard’.
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GUNS N’ ROSES ”The Ultra Rare Trax” is a really cool bootleg released today (available on CD and double vinyl) promising ‘rarities, obscurities and oddities’ and indeed we find some fun stuff involving Axl Rose & Co.
We get recordings / collaborations / demos / live appearances with the likes of Alice Cooper, Aerosmith, Tom Petty, Steve Jones, Bruce Springsteen, etc. There’s a rare demo with Duff McKagan on vocals, very good live recordings from the Chinese Democracy tours, and other rare demos / unreleased.
It’s also nice to hear Axl and Slash as guests on a studio album from the band The Outpatients, and a live version of GN’R of AC/DC’s classic ‘Whole Lotta Rosie’. There’s some error too, as ‘Herod’s Song’ wrongly giving the credit as “Axl Rose with Meatloaf” which is in fact Delta Theatre Band, a song from a musical where both singers sound like… Axl Rose and Meatloaf. Or ‘5150’ performed by a Van Halen cover band whos’ singer voice is very similar to Axl.
Anyway, this is a nice to have bootleg, especially for GUNS N’ ROSES fans and collectors. Sound quality is pretty good for the most part…

Swedish classic hard rock band TEASER SWEET, who originally began playing Kiss covers, were formed in 2013 by guitarist Marcus Damberg. With the help of his sister, lead vocalist Therese Damberg, the band released three studio albums and one EP.
Now through High Roller Records, Teaser Sweet are preparing to release their fourth studio titled ”Night Stalker”, and ode the traditional ’70s / ’80s sound metal bands such as Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Dio. Then, for some pizzazz, throw in a fearless frontwoman who isn’t afraid to do her own thing.
First things first, Night Stalker is the perfect album length, clocking in at roughly 36 minutes. Straight and to the point rock ‘n’ roll. In a surprising twist, however, the album doesn’t start off with a banger. It starts off with a beautiful, one-minute, acoustic instrumental, which transitions nicely into the ferocious title track with its big earworm chorus. A Maiden-type gallop kicks off the next track, “Deep in the Woods,” which is a cross between Judas Priest’s “Traitor’s Gate” and Iron Maiden’s “Purgatory.” Strange combination, yes, but it works greatly.
”Turn Me On” leans into Teaser Sweet’s 1980s hard rock sensibilities, reminding one of a Pat Benatar or Lita Ford tune. The band shows yet again that they are at the height of their craft when building up to big choruses led by the tuneful but powerful wails of Damberg. The band also excels…

Legendary guitar virtuoso YNGWIE MALMSTEEN is set to release his brand new album, “Tokyo Live“, on April 25 via Music Theories Recordings. The incomparable Malmsteen is one of the greatest rock guitarists to ever have lived. So, when the chance comes to witness the maestro in the live setting, you take notice.
The concert was recorded at the Zepp DiverCity, Tokyo, on May 11th 2024 as part of his 40th Anniversary World Tour. Calling upon an enormous catalogue of material, Malmsteen shredded his way through a furious set, backed by a mountainous Marshall stack wall.
The setlist tracks Malmsteen’s illustrious career, from “Hiroshima Mon Amour” and “Evil Eye” and through his remarkable solo career with “Rising Force,” “Far Beyond The Sun,” “Arpeggios from Hell” and “Seventh Sign” all the way up to his most recent material taken from 2021’s ‘Parabellum,’ with “Wolves At The Door,” “Relentless Fury”, and not to mention rousing renditions of “Paganini’s 4th” and “Smoke on the Water.”

If you are a celebrated progressive rock musician who has produced dozens of albums, how do you make an album that is different to what is usually expected? One answer is to work with musicians who also have decades of experience and worldwide recognition, plant a few seeds, then stand back and see what happens.
For the COSMIC CATHEDRAL project and their debut album ‘Deep Water‘, this is exactly what Neal Morse did, joining up with Chester Thompson (Genesis, Frank Zappa), Phil Keaggy & Byron House (Robert Plant Band). Much of the album was created from jam sessions where Morse’s long-time audio partner Jerry Guidroz put the best parts together, such as for the 38 minute epic, ‘Deep Water Suite’. Says Morse, “Time To Fly, also came directly from one of the jam sessions, where we took one of Phil’s ideas and all four of us elaborated on it.”
What resulted from all this was a more groove-orientated feel, which Morse calls a “prog meets yacht rock meets The Beatles” kind of album, with an unmistakable fusion influence: “These guys are real groovers: even if they’re playing proggy stuff, it has more of a Steely Dan feel to it, but when Phil and I start singing it sounds like The Beatles!”
The chemistry between the four elder statesmen who comprise this band is palpable, and it is fair to state that a fifth presence, respected sound engineer Jerry Guidroz, contributes to the chemistry by doing far more than just mixing the ingredients…

With a guitar slung over his shoulder and the amps turned up full tilt, ANTHONY GOMES electrifies blues and rock at a 21st century crossroads of his own. The Canadian vocalist, guitarist, songwriter and producer wails with all the force of a hurricane in the Mississippi Delta and enough fret-burning fireworks to leave his strings in flames.
2025 Anthony Gomes is back with his 14th studio album, ”Praise the Loud”, and believe us, makes justice to its title. Yeah, blues based, but a fierce hard rockin’ album with some killer riffs and melodies. Song titles speaks; ‘Blame It on Rock & Roll’, ‘Black Diamond Heavy’, ‘Rock and Roll Bluesman’, ‘Praise the Loud’. This is a rock n’ roll LP, and a hot one.
Three songs were co-written with magician Jim Peterik (Survivor, Pride Of Lions), so quality abound here. Producer / engineer Peter Carson shared co-producing duties with Gomes on this album that transmits an atypical sound for the blues-oriented Gomes – that of hard rocking songs and a shredding guitar. On these rocking songs, vocally Gomes sounds like John Corabi.
The title track and first song on the album captures Gomes’ exploding on guitar, juxtaposing crunchy power chords and the skillful use of his wah-wah pedal, belting out vocals with conviction and a heavy metal edge…

With a musical foundation deeply rooted in classic hard rock combined with a contemporary approach, MAD INVASION deliver a distinctive sound where heavy guitars and a solid rhythm section merge with melodic harmonies and modern soundscapes forming a unique listening experience.
A sort of a super-group including awesome vocalist Pete Sandberg (Madison, Snake Charmer, Alien), guitarist Bjorn Dahlberg (producer of Billionaire Boys Club, Bad Habit), guitarist / keyboardist Hal Marabel (Bad Habit, Bai Bang), bass player Mats Jeppsson (69-HARD, United Enemies) and legendary drummer Mikkey Dee (Motörhead, Scorpions, King Diamond, Dokken), MAD INVASION is killing hard rock machine.
The upcoming new album “Crack In The Sky” is the second effort from the combo, and if the first was good, this new CD surpasses everything from songwriting to production…

Rhino Records will release WHITESNAKE ”Access All Areas: Live” on April 25th, a killer 8-CD Box Set. The set features six live shows across eight CDs, capturing the raw excitement of the classic blues-rock band in full flight, live on stage. 88 tracks remastered in 2025.
Kicking off with ‘LIVE… IN THE STILL OF THE NIGHT’, legendary rock singer David Coverdale is joined by Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach on lead guitar, long time Whitesnake drummer Tommy Aldridge plus Marco Mendoza on bass. Recorded at London’s iconic Hammersmith Apollo in 2004, the set includes the huge MTV hits Is This Love, Here I Go Again and Still Of The Night.
‘LIVE… IN THE SHADOW OF THE BLUES’ on CD2 and CD3 was recorded on their 2006 World Tour, and delves back to Whitesnake’s earliest days with “Don’t Break My Heart Again” and “Take Me With You.”
MADE IN JAPAN finds the band headlining the huge Loud Park festival in Japan in 2011, across CDs 3 & 4. MADE IN BRITAIN unsurprisingly captures the band on David’s home turf whilst on the Forevermore tour in 2011. THE WORLD TOUR was also captured in 2011 on the Forevermore tour, features hits such as “The Deeper The Love,” as well as newer stage favorite, “Can You Hear The Wind Blow.”
This 8 disc set ends right back where David musical odyssey started, with THE PURPLE TOUR LIVE. Now joined by lead guitarist Joel Hoekstra, Whitesnake power through songs from the earliest days of David’s career with Deep Purple, including “Burn,” “The Gypsy,” “Mistreated” and “Soldier Of Fortune”…

Finland’s most popular AOR / Melodic Rock band BROTHER FIRETRIBE are releasing new music and celebrating with a spring tour. Titled “Number One“, the new work is a blistering collection of fresh songs after a handful of rather quiet years from the guys.
Production, arrangements and lovely hooklines all over the place, everything is awesome here. The first single asks a question: “Are You Ready?” – Yes, that’s what we are!
If you love that ‘big sound’, high energy, feel-good melodic hooks with the European vibe then this soaring release from the ever consistent Brother Firetribe will be high on your list of purchases this year.
These guys never disappoint and this is right up there with their best!..

PROST is an international project led by Antoine Prost, a passionate rock guitarist for over 40 years. His influences are diverse, ranging from hard rock to classical music by Bach and Vivaldi. Over time, he has listened to bands like MSG, UFO, Night Ranger or Whitesnake, and more recently, Revolution Saints, Degreed, and Brother Firetribe, while also drawing inspiration from the guitar virtuosos of Shrapnel Records, such as Yngwie Malmsteen, Paul Gilbert or George Bellas.
It wasn’t until 2023 that the PROST Melodic Rock band was born. The decisive encounter with Manos Fatsis, known for his collaborations with AOR acts City Of Lights and Odyssey Desperado, marked a major turning point. An instant chemistry was formed between the two artists: Antoine composed the music while Manos wrote the lyrics and vocal melodies. Alongside with them, Greg Aubert, a longtime friend of Antoine, joined the band on bass, and Mats Eriksson, drummer of Degreed, brought a solid and inspired rhythm section.
The result? “Believe Again“, a powerful and intense Melodic Rock / AOR album, blending sharp riffs, virtuosic solos, captivating harmonies, and immersive synth layers. With mixing and mastering handled by Mats Eriksson, the album radiates a modern and impactful energy…

Canadian melodic hard rockers HAREM SCAREM will release their highly anticipated new album ”Chasing Euphoria”, set for release on April 25, 2025, via Frontiers Music.
Harem Scarem are finally back with their anticipated return album Chasing Euphoria, their first new album in 5 years. Their new record is an absolute belter for all Melodic Hard Rock fans and shows clearly why, when a discussion arises on who are the current heavyweights of the melodic hard rock scene, the list of names being bantered about cannot avoid a mention of Harem Scarem.
Chasing Euphoria brings back the band’s classic sound and shows the group at the top of their game. A cohesive unit still able to deliver a power-rock-packed punch, swaggering riffs, and hooks to die for. Harry Hess and Pete Lesperance, without a doubt, show the world that their partnership still shine bright…