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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 08/06/2018 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
Time for a short break due end of
next week, but plenty of news due within the next days.
Our very own June releases from Jean
Beauvoir (due Monday) and Von Baltzer (already in stock)
are ready to go and the shipment from down under
containing the Senior Management, Rust’N’Rage, StoneLake
and Captain Black Beard should arrive today or next
Monday at the latest.
Once when we’ll return due Monday,
the 25th of June, you can expext some nice
goodies from the likes of Guild Of Ages, Schubert In
rock, The Night Flight Orchestra and a few more !
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Please take note:
We have closed for our vacations from June, the 15th
until the 24th.
If you want to make an order before we leave please do
it asap. |
Listen to our upcoming June 2018
releases release from JEAN BEAUVOIR and VON BALTZER at
www.metalheaven.net
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Have a great week
Georg & Monika
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JEAN BEAUVOIR - Rock Masterpieces Vol.1
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Crown Of Thorns (Edit)
Feel The Heat (Edit)
Voodoo Queen (Edit) |
JEAN BEAUVOIR (ex THE PLASMATICS, CROWN OF THORNS) is way more than “just“ producer, songwriter to session musician for the likes of KISS, THE RAMONES, LIONEL RITCHIE or JOHN WAITE to name but a few. The Haitian-born American has got his own rock legacy with his solo stuff and with CROWN OF THORNS foremost. His biggest hit “Feel The Heat“ from the soundtrack to “Cobra“ is on board, of course, although the majority of the songs (e.g. “Lyin’“ or “Faith“) are taken from various COT-records. “The Awakening“ from the brillant VOODOO X debut is another true gem to be found here. “Rock Masterpiecess Vol. 2“ is coming up soon, too to complete the picture before a brand new album is about to be published! JEAN BEAUVOIR is back, although he hasn’t really been away. Outstanding, too, is the acoustic version of “Standing On The Corner For Ya“ at the end of the fully remastered record.
MARTIN STARK |
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Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdFfRN3MrAk |
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VON BALTZER - Cultural Daze
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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All Night Long (Edit)
Burning Bridges (Edit)
Cultural Days (Edit) |
The Swedish band VON BALTZER plays a cool mixture of lots of classic rock, a considerable amount of AOR und a little bit of progressive rock sounds. Stylewise, “Cultural Daze“ could have been made in both the seventies or the eighties - without being old-fashioned at all. The two mainmen Christian Kjellström (g, ATLANTIS) and Erik Palmqvist (g) seem to have found the perfect voice for their purposes. This voice is none but the mighty Ian Parry (e.g. ELEGY, AYREON). “Cultural daze“ offers ten timeless rock songs that mostly kick ass and offer great lyrics about what we as society will have to face in these turbulent days. A band to definitely keep an eye on - or better to open one’s ears to. “Better Days“, “Radio Active“ and “Stepping Stone“ are the right first encounters to the world of VON BALTZER. Produced by Magnus Johansson.
MARTIN STARK |
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Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSLdacMj5vY |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES!
THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT - Heart & Soul
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Here is something really special from Sweden. In the summer of 2015 guitarist Dennis Heltorp and drummer Henrik Zetterlund formed the THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT. Together they have been involved in different music projects since the late '80s like the band Y.M.I. During the mid 90s they first met BILLIONAIRES BOYS CLUB feat. Göran Edman and Magnus Rosen (Hammerfall) at a festival. Almost 20 years later this two gentlemans are part of this new band. THE SENIOR MANAGEMENT are unmistakably 'Swedish' is terms of sound, but they have something 'special'. At places, musically, I found some similarities to Cats In Space meets early The Poodles, but also Richie Kotzen and the good 'ole Eagles. Unique & great !
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LY9fBHDZBsA |
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STONELAKE - Thunder And Rain
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Previously Swedish band Stonelake style combined modern Euro Hard Rock and classic Melodic Metal, and now, while still retaining a set of high octane guitar riffs and a pounding rhythm section, everything is totally Melodic Hard Rock oriented. The band even changed its logo. Founded by Jan Akesson (S.A.Y., Shadow Rain) the band has grown in all aspects, but essentially, they turned much more Melodic Hard Rock oriented adding keyboards, soaring harmonies and a very polished sound to their music. StoneLake were already a really good band, now, with their first album in 5 years and a change of style, they are even better. The Melodic Hard Rock groove and melodies suit these guys perfectly.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BsGoG0tRSMc |
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RUST’N’RAGE - Tales From The Wonderland
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Finland’s youngest and most hard hitting bands RUST N' RAGE released their debut five years ago, which sounded very amateurish like a demo and poorly arranged & recorded. Well, half a decade made its work on these guys and 2018 Rust N’ Rage sound like a solid unit. They may have been influenced by Guns'N'Roses at their early days, but here we're talking about some totally different sounds. Examples ? "Taking On The Edge" sounds like Vinnie Vincent Invasion meets Slaughter, "Riding On The Storm" could be an amalgam of Mama's Boys or Heavy Pettin circa 1985 or "Lethal Injections Of Love" would perfectly fit PRETTY MAID's "Future World" album. Great stuff from this young Finnish lads, check them out pronto !
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=doRRFwlYABo |
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CAPTAIN BLACK BEARD - Struck By Lightning
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Captain Black Beard is a Swedish rock band that was formed back in 2009. Their debut "Hey Man" (2011) gained some fave rave reviews and the Sweish outfit continued with the albums "Before Plastic" and "It's A Mouthful". Nowadays and with a new record deal under their belt ,the band is back and sounds better than ever. The new album is entitled "Struck By Lightning" and features ten songs with a more melodic approach that the sure thing is that will gain more popularity. Captain Black Beard's newest effort is solid, powerful, modern and melodic. To be honest, I didn't find any filler or weak moment here. It's one of these records that are enjoyable from start to finish.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8H4JH7wHyk |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK !
ROX DIAMOND - Let The Music Do The Talkin’
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Rox Diamond have been on/off the scene since their first introduction to L.A audiences as the band Casanova back in the latter half of the 80's. They released their great debut way back in 1992, which was especially well received in Japan. There was a 1992 Live in Japan DVD, plus a second studio CD called 'Power Drive' from 2005. They also ventured over to England in 2008 for the Firefest gig. for which a DVD was released in 2010. Almost a decade later the US band is finally back with a new studio album. The music is pure melodic rock heaven with emphasis on melodies, the clever n' memorable choruses and an overall 'blast from the past' sound. Just the production / mix may be a bit dry, but that's just a minor let down.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9q8pqPifbs |
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SUNSTORM - Road To Hell
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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SUNSTORM album number six by now (!) once again combines the talents of Joe Lynn Turner (v, ex RAINBOW, ex DEEP PURPLE) and the Italian workaholic Alessandro Del Vecchio (keys, HARDLINE, REVOLUTION SAINTS). Melodic hard rock the way it should be done in 2018. Although it’s pretty obvious that the eleven tracks are mostly written by different songwriters, the overall quality is quite high. “Road To Hell“ scratches on the brilliant self-titled debut (2006).
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fleQOAT2z4M |
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AMANDA SOMERVILLE’S TRILLIUM - Tectonic
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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The unique voice of Amanda Somerville (KISKE/SOMERVILLE) is only one aspect - although certainly an important one - that makes “Tectonic“ a great album. It’s a really cool mixture of (female fronted) hardrock, melodic rock and a considerable amount of gothic flavour topped by a contemporary production which lets the songs breathe. Just check out the mighty “Fatal Mistake“ for instance.
MARTIN STARK
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyOpQ932n2E |
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REFUGE - Solitary Man
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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The RAGE-line up with Peavy Wagner (v/b), Manni Schmidt (g) and Chris Efthimiades (d), playing live under the name of REFUGE, one of their strongest tracks ever, for a short while now, put out a new album by the name of “Solitary Man“. An album similar sounding to the most melodic period in the career of RAGE, the years 1987 to1993. Really cool trying to sound like back then AND moreover, actually managing to do so. Thanks RAGE, well…REFUGE!
MARTIN STARK
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uwSYEKLpnGY |
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TNT - XIII
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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TNT and their first album after Tony Harnell leaving once again makes a mixed impression. After a great first song (“We’re Gonna Make It“) many songs leave you puzzled as they have basically nothing to do with what the band did so well in the past. And it is certainly not because of new Spanish singer Baol Bardot Bulsara. The Norwegians around Ronnie Le Tekro (g) mostly walk new, rather modern grounds here.
MARTIN STARK
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwMQdUPnG70 |
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SPECIAL OFFER!
ALCATRAZZ - Disturbing The Peace (digitally remastered)
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A: 8,5 € |
B: 10,5 € |
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Alcatrazz rebounded from the loss of Yngwie J Malmsteen and promptly replaced him with another guitar wizard, Steve Vai, who had been playing with Frank Zappa's band. How Bonnet tempted him to join Alcatrazz is a mystery but he at least helped them record a startling hard rock album. AOR shadings are always present in their sound, mainly in the melodic guitar and keyboard solo's. Bonnet is too much of a rocker to be strictly AOR thankfully. This was miles ahead of the ragged debut, Vai and Bonnet composing all but three songs themselves. It is impossible when listening to this not to think of either Vai's later work in the David Lee Roth Band or Bonnet's time in Rainbow or MSG. Their styles are so identifiable with both acts that the sound is an agreeable combination of the two.
Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrfG2V1L5xc |
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LAKE - Ouch! + Hot Day (digitally remastered)
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A: 8,5 € |
B: 10,5 € |
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Lake was/ is a German rock/pop/band with a Scottish lead singer : James Hopkins-Harrison (whom sadly passed away in 1991) this two albums on one CD holds their "Ouch!"(1980) & "Hot Day" (1981) releases and if you are a friend of City Boy, Little River Band and Toto..then you are in for treat of great pop--rock tunes galore. "Ouch!" was the first album to be released following the departure of three members of the band from their peak period, Detlef Petersen, Geoffrey Peacey, and Martin Tiefense, who were replaced by Frank Hieber, Achim Opperman, and Heiko Efferz. This personal changes didn't affected the music as both albums continued their series of excellent releases and should fine a good home with every serious AOR- and west coast lover.
Listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TvRG0FG-Zs8 |
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THE NIGHT FLIGHT ORCHESTRA - 06/29
SCHUBERT IN ROCK - 06/29
GUILD OF AGES - 06/29
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