After a longer break US label Kivel records has a hot new outfit on offer. LOVE & REVENGE features the talents of vocalist Damon Kelly, which was previously the driving force behind US hard rockers ROCKARMA. Together with guitar wiz John Lisi and mastermind Vic Rivera of ADRIAN GALE fame on drums and the production helm the trio offers a superb slice of classic US melodic (hard) rock. Overall it's an album that is chock full of fun with the top down arena rock, while also offering inspiring tunes to help you attack those life goals. Mastered by Harry Hess (HAREM SCAREM) it's tailor made for fans of ADRIAN GALE, FIREHOUSE and early HAREM SCAREM and surely worth having for every melodic rock lover.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdyIGAXUZ8U

Rui Rocha is a Portuguese keyboardist and songwriter, and has composed all the material on "Ulum" closely helped by Jeff Paris who also plays various instruments. All tracks are exquisite AOR pieces plenty of melody and elegant arrangements. While there's a couple of smoother tracks with a West Coast feel, overall, "Ulum" sounds pretty 'rock', in the melodic side of '80s AOR tradition. Produced by top producer Keith Olsen (Whitesnake) and with a helluva line-up incl. Jeff Pescetto on vocals plus Michael Thompson, Tim Pierce, Michael Landau, Paul Pesco, Vinnie Colaiuta, Lenny Castro and plenty of more great ace musos you can be sure to get a high quality album of the highest order. Pure AOR heaven !

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-82vUuzvF4

The current RAINBOW- and LORDS OF BLACK fronter Ronnie Romero sings with THE FERRYMEN, too. Together with Magnus Karlsson (g, PRIMAL FEAR, ALLEN/LANDE) und Mike Terrana (dr, ex RAGE, TARJA) he offers melodic metal with plenty of power on the twelve tracks included. Cracking guitars along with power drumming are all over the place. A slice of BLACK SABBATH of the Tony Martin years can be heard, too.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bY9M3x42ADg

German power metal outfit PRIMAL FEAR has been quite successful and busy in 2016. "Angels Of Mercy (Live In Germany)" showcases their Stuttgart gig. This packages includes fifteen cracking tracks like "Metal Is Forever", "Angels In Black" or "Rulebreaker" both on CD and Blu-ray. PRIMAL FEAR never sounded better since the legendary 1998 tour in support of the debut. Apart from that especially vocalist Ralf Scheepers seems to deliver his best performance ever.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EZCHe3_y3AE

"Passing Stages: Live In Milan and Atlanta" is a live double-decker providing finest progressive metal brought to you by Italian band DGM. Recorded at two festivals and proving both recent material of "The Passing" and band classics from albums like "Frame" or "Momentum" in a powerful and multifaceted sound, this is a must-have for fans of DREAM THEATER, KAMELOT, PAGAN'S MIND or VANDEN PLAS. Melody meets musical artistry.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gXg-sXBiW0k

Fourteen newly recorded band classics from 1997 to 2002 like "Emerald Sword", "Land Of Immortals", "Holy Thunderforce" or "Rain Of A Thousand Flames" can be found on "Legendary Years". Newly mixed and mastered by Seeb Levermann (ORDEN OGAN). A great chance to check out the golden years of Italians RHAPSODY OF FIRE and because of the way better sound even for long time fans of the band a great opportunity to revisit the beloved classics.

MARTIN STARK

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ti-qWQaVlO4

Another Frontiers project but absolutely one of the better kind. Parramore McCarthy (WARRIOR, STEVE STEVENS) sings like hell and takes no prisoners making the eleven hard rock anthems shine. Towards the end the songwriting gets a bit weaker but still "Radiation Romeos" is a pretty good debut. Produced by Michael Voss (e.g. PHANTOM 5, WOLFPAKK), who also contributed a couple of songs.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iuvbbgCNB3k

JORN is able to deliver mature songwriting and introduces a new band including Mat Sinner (b, SINNER) and Alex Beyrodt (g, VOODOO CIRCLE) on "Life on Death Road". After another cover album it's finally new material, the first in four years. As usual the mighty voice of JORN alone turns the songs into pure quality. Surely one of the Norwegians strongest efforts. "Dreamwalker" and "I Walked Away" alone justify buying "Life On Death Road". Thumbs up!

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t1p4X2mGPVQ

Band with Michele Luppi (keys, WHITESANKE) on vocals. Their progressive melodic metal takes another spin. Lots of keyboards, a fine sense of melody and mighty riffs in the right place as well as sophisticated songwriting let "The Nature Of Time" shine. Lots of keyboards and a pristine production highlight the extremely charismatic voice of master Luppi, too. Gems like "The Calling" or "Kindness" will become classics of the genre for sure.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sneqNR6QCkw

Gary Brandon was one of the original co-founders of pomp AOR gods White Sister. After serious trouble with the recorded company (which reduced his role as one of the lead singers just as a keyboard player) he left the band during the "Fashion By Passion" sessions in 1986. After joyning the John Parr live band he put together a new band in California and recorded a bunch of new material under the moniker RADIOUX CITY.  Between 1988 and 1991 plenty of songs got recorded for an album, but like so many others Grunge killed the band. While there is still a hint of the AOR sound in this material , it's far more Hair Metal with a groovy funky element. First time ever on CD, digitally remastered, 3 bonus tracks, limited edition of 500 copies.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E7LKs-r0Kf0

Back in 1982, former Angel Witch bass player Kevin Riddles teamed up with Karl Swan to form TYTAN. Unfortunatly the band proved short lived. In fact the debut was released in 1985, after Tytan had split-up. Tytan reformed in 2012 after an invite to play at the Keep It True Festival in Germany. But now TYTAN is back, 32 years after the debut 'Rough Justice'. 'Justice, Served!' brings you a fine serving of NWOBHM which relies on strong melodies, a healthy dose of remarkable vocals and heavy use of keyboards. "Justice Served" will only be Tytan's second album and was produced by legendary producer Chris Tsangarides (Judas Priest / Y & T). Just a pity that original singer Kal Swan is not part of the reunion.

The roots of BUGZY date back to late 1983 but by 1988 William "Bugsy" Boyer, Franki Gorgo and  Bob Kimmel had officially joined forces and fleshed out a lineup to begin performing live—"BUGZY" being the simple result of needing a name for their first gig. Within a year, a short-lived production deal with producer Tony Bongiovi led the group to record a few tracks in NY historic Power Station studio. Into the mid-'90s, with the help of ace producer Chris Lord-Alge, BUGZY was courted by no less than three major labels, but the trio's decade of hard work would shockingly fail to yield the release of one single piece of music. What a pity, cause we're talking about first class melodic rock stuff of the highest order. Strictly limited to 500 copies.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NiKEi1MTX5U

Bobby Barth is best remembered for his stint with the melodic rock band Axe. 1984 dealt a huge blow to Axe and Barth personally. A road accident claiming the life of guitarist Michael Osborne and putting Barth into hospital with serious injuries. 1985 saw Barth join southern rockers Blackfoot, replacing Ken Hensley on the 'Vertical Smiles' tour. In 1986 Barth released his one and only solo album 'Two Hearts One Beat'. Immediately the sound of the album is squarely peg-marked in that mid 80s hi-tech groove. The sound here is similar to mid 80's Starship mainly with touches of Robert Tepper / Rick Springfield.

Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zz-xeb8wG10

Born in Melbourne (he was once in the same class as Olivia Newton-John), Daryl Braithwaite moved in his teens to Sydney where he abandoned his fitter and turner apprenticeship for music. Braithwaite emerged with Sherbet, the biggest pop band to emerge from Australia at the time with 20 hits between 1971 to 1979. During the 80s Braithwaite enjoyed his biggest solo success. "The Edge" (a #1 hit) and "Rise" yielded hits as ‘As The Days Go By’, ‘One Summer’, "Horses’ and a minor US hit with 1991’s ‘Higher Than Hope’ which he co-wrote. "Forever The Tourist" (2013) contains 8 new tracks after a break of 8 years since his latest studio album "Snapshot" in 2005. After all this years Daryl Braithwaite proves again that he still can write great singer / songwriter stuff with a modern edge.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gwQjlp5yqcI

As big-time success continued to elude them despite some great albums and singles, they evolved for the times.  1998’s "Big Bang Theory" is the first major step in a more commercial direction.  This meant incorporating popular pop-punk sounds:  short, fast simple melodic songs with minimal soloing.  “Turn Around” is a perfect example of this new direction.  There is a guitar solo, albeit brief.  These qualities don’t have to be a bad thing if they’re done right, and Harem Scarem did them exceptionally well. "BBT" maintained the Harem Scarem momentum.  It delivered three standout must-haves and an album’s worth of good material.

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=6&v=91PXvitVkqE