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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 09/11/2018 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
Time flies - just 3 weeks to go until
H.e.a.t. festival and due next Tuesday we'll get our
November releases (CARE OF NIGHT, DAN REED NETWORK, JEAN
BEAUVOIR) which means another year is almost history !
The only other new title is the new
Ted Nugent CD which we should get by Monday, the new
Reece album is already in stock.
Have a great week
Georg & Monika |
CARE OF NIGHT - Love Equals War
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Hit (Edit)
Love Equals War (Edit)
She Leads You On (Edit) |
The second album of CARE OF NIGHT took some three years in the making but the Swedes with frontman Calle Schönberg once again put out great stuff. This time by the name of “Love Equals War“, a fine AOR gem. After some line-up changes which also affected the songwriting team, this follow-up comes as a surprise because CARE OF NIGHT manage to absolutely stick to their ground stylistically. Melodies as far as the eye can see (“She Leads You On, “The Tower“ or “Cold As My Heart“), a great combination of vocals, guitars and lots of keyboards. “At Last“ in addition to that, proves that the Swedes are able to reduce the pace and sound a bit more contemporary at he same time without denying their roots. Well produced again by Erik Wigelius (WIGELIUS). Ten timeless anthems for fans of WORK OF ART, CREYE or CODE RED. Thumbs up!
MARTIN STARK |
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Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AWTc7Pz2rPE |
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DAN REED NETWORK - Origins
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Fade To Light (Edit)
Right In Front Of Me (Edit)
Shameless (Edit) |
In many respects an unusual but highly interesting album that shows the roots and the future of DAN REED NETWORK displaying 4 classics (“Forget To Make Her Mine“, “Ritual“, “Let It Go“ and “Rainbow Child“). Recorded in pairs each in four prestigious studios worldwide (Manchester, Stockholm, New York and Portland/Oregon) in front of an intimate crowd., “Origins“ showcases versatile qualities of the band. It’s quite a remarkable and innovative concept, for which the diverse but somehow always characteristic sound of the Americans seems to be fitting like a glove. Although at the end of the day only eight tracks long, this piece of art definitely feels like a full album. Strong statement!
MARTIN STARK |
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Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJQogH3ZfRg |
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JEAN BEAUVOIR - Rock Masterpieces Vol.2
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Live And Die (Edit)
Lost Cathedral (Edit)
The Healer (Edit) |
“Rock Masterpieces Vol. 2“, like the the recently published predecessor, is an impressive retrospective showcasing the magnificent output of the American who created timeless material with CROWN OF THORNS, VOODOO X, THE PLASMATICS as well as solo-wise. Often reduced to his songwriting talent for other artists such as KISS, LIONEL RICHIE or THE RAMONES, the extravagant-looking frontman has absolutely no difficulties at all to fill another compilation with superb material. It’s a fascinating mixture of melodic rock, hard rock or rather pop-like sounds. It’s the perfect introduction to the work of JEAN BEAUVOIR. All tracks of probably one of the last true rock stars out there have been carefully remastered and at times appear in a different light.
MARTIN STARK |
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Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m7OHwt-3N2w |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !
TED NUGENT - The Music Made Me Do It + DVD
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A: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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The "motor city madman" is back on track with a new album. The follow-up to 2014's "Shutup & Jam" features Nugent alongside longtime touring bassist Greg Smith, drummer Jason Hartless and Michael Lutz. "The Music Made Me Do It", he says, an it's the title of the new album, which, indeed, rocks. The crazy, punchy and funnily titled “BigFunDirtyGrooveNoize” really sums up Ted's musically career in five words. It's rock n' roll, frenzied, full of guitar licks. 'Cocked, Locked & Ready to Rock' kills with a hard rock groove with its certain '70s feel, as well as the dirty 'n greasy 'Backstrap Fever', and 'I Just Wanna Go Huntin', the song rock fine with some Night Ranger on it. Overall a classic Nugent release with all his signature trademarkes.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3MYV34mRL8 |
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REECE - Resilient Heart
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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“Resilient Heart“, the new solo effort of David Reece (ex ACCEPT, BANGALOR CHOIR) is at times quite a highlight. REECE play heavy rock and pounding heavy metal with lots of groove. The American has got a magnificent voice and songs like “Desire“ or “Perfect Apocalypse“ highlight it in an impressive way. But in terms of songwriting there are not many surprises, though.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QAzFyRbwJXo |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK!
MADISON - Best In Show +2 (digitally remastered)
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Here's another Swedish outfit to strike out during the mid-eighties - Madison. Steeped in the tradition of bands ploughing the same road as Thin Lizzy, UFO and Deep Purple, Madison were doing nothing more than digging a deeper hole on the well-etched trails laid before, and since copied by other Euro bands on the same stretch of highway. Despite the band featuring the talented Göran Edman, this was considered to be still early days for the classy frontman, his halcyon days still many years away. "Best In Show" (1986) turned out much more melodic as their metal flavored debut "Diamond Mistress" (1984) and was only released in Japan on CD, so get a copy of this remastered re-issue asap.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKM1BcjwsqA |
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NORDIC UNION - Second Coming
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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NORDIC UNION, that’s still Erik Martensson (g, v, ECLIPSE), W.E.T.) and Ronnie Atkins (PRETTY MAIDS). One of those few projects out there that we really need. Great songwriting, stylistically versatile melodic rock and an amazing performance of the two protagonists - that is what you get with “Second Coming“. Anthems like “Because Of Us“, “The Final War“ or “Die Together“ are hard to resist. One of THE highlights this year!
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZSe5w17uOk |
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TEN - Illuminati
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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A quick follow-up to „Gothica“ (2017) by British outfit TEN. But it is not a pure concept album like the title and some of the songs (“Jericho“, “The Rosetta Stone“ or “Illuminati“) might suggest as they deal with motives and stories around that mystical secretive organisation. But musically it is pure melodic rock that stands on its own, carried by the mighty and unique voice of Gary Hughes alone.
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7Om7kni5jA |
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STEPHEN PEARCY - View To A Thrill
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Another solo album of RATT frontier STEPHEN PEARCY. Not a surprise that it sounds similar to his mainband. Maybe at times slighty more modern (“One In A Million“) but don’t be afraid, it’s still pure hard rock in the vein of RATT and the likes. There is not much to complain about here in terms of playing or voice although the songwriting does not capture you right away. Nevertheless: Not only for fans of RATT. Check out “Secrets To Tell“ and “Not Killin’ Me“
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nqY8PJw_lg |
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RED DRAGON CARTEL - Patina
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Hard rock of the rough kind is brought to you by RED DRAGON CARTEL. Mastermind is Jake E. Lee (g, ex OZZY OSBOURNE, ex BADLANDS) and therefore obviously guitars play a major role here but frontman Darren James Smith (drummer in HAREM SCAREM) is quite a good singer, too. Slightly bluesy at times and as well as a punchy production add to the positive side whereas one or two outstanding tracks are missing here.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JyZwyFWWzw8 |
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HOLTER - Vlad The Impaler
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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HOLTER, once started by Trond Holter (g, ex WIG WAM) and Jorn Lande (v, AVANTASIA) puts out a sophomore album. This time it is Nils K. Rue (PAGAN’S MIND) and Eva Iselin Erichsen singing but once again the topic is vampires and the like. More metal than hard rock but at the end of the day a coherent record with excellent guitars and stylistically somewhere between SAVATAGE, MEAT LOAF or ALICE COOPER. Interesting piece of music!
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J3MCa8uXCY |
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SPECIAL OFFERS!!
LIONCAGE - II |
A: 6 € |
B: 7,5 € |
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LIONCAGE without doubt walk the path of TOTO, JOURNEY or HUEY LEWIS. Although being a German band they sound pretty international due to singer Thorsten Bertermann. "Secrets" with a guest appearance of Tim Pierce (e.g. RICK SPRINGFIELD) is a track that CHICAGO would have hardly done better in the eighties and for instance "Mysterious Angel" or "The Inner Circle" simply rock. LIONCAGE bubbles. The lions are ready to break out!
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IISpVQfC4DU |
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THE ANGELS - No Exit
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A: 5 € |
B: 6,5 € |
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"No Exit" is the follow-up album to The Angels (known as Angel City in the US) classic "Face To Face" album. You'll find the same energetic crowd favourites here as on FTF, but there's some songwriting growth on display with tracks like "Out Of The Blue" and "Dawn Is Breaking", which have quiet and sombre moments like "Outcast" on FTF. The Angels (along with AC/DC and Rose Tattoo) helped to create and define an era of Australian rock music. No Exit is an integral part of that era, and is arguably the middle part of a series of three albums which defined The Angels, and documented their growth for what was a remarkably short period of August 1978 to July 1980.
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kELGCwMBEvA |
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THE RADIO SUN - Unstoppable
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A: 6 € |
B: 7,5 € |
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Probably Australia’s best melodic rock/AOR band THE RADIO SUN underlines their status with „Unstoppable“. Eleven tracks to make you smile. “Surrender Your Heart“ or “Unstoppable“ take you by storm. Close to perfect material for lovers of e.g. DANGER DANGER, CHEAP TRICK or ROXUS. Only vocalist Jason Old is responsible for a minor drawback of the rating. Once again produced by Paul Laine (DARK HORSE).
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_JePYKNeVA |
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COME TASTE THE BAND - 01/25
STATE OF SALAZAR - 12/05
PALACE - 12/05
TED POLEY - 11/23
GOTTHARD - 12/07
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