Fallen Angel (Edit)

Midnight Lovers (Edit)

No Mercy (Edit)

Album number two by Finnish AOR/melodic outfit WAKE THE NATIONS is an early contestant for album of the year in the melodic/AOR genre. “Heartrock“ is full of great hooks, has got a both powerful and clear production and with frontman Krister Stenbom a fine vocalist bringing the songs to life. The duet “Flames“ sticks even out a bit because the female voice adds an interesting flavor to the overall sound. Check out especially “Tattooed Girl“, “Fallen Angel“ and “Something In Your Eyes“. These examples of effective songwriting will do nothing but take you by storm. If you are a fan of the likes of H.E.A.T., ECLIPSE or ONE DESIRE, this is your choice!

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGJX0D_1x7o

Second solo album of the PRIDE OF LIONS frontman and the first to be written and recorded with Swedish musicians Daniel Flores (dr, FIND ME) and Michael Palace (g, PALACE) is a true AOR/melodic gem with in-depth lyrics. The American with the unique voice sings emotionally and powerful at the same time like hardly anybody else these days. Thumbs up! Check out the uptempo album opener “No Surrender“ and the emotional “Fighting For My Life“.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQ5S21KRk60

STARBREAKER, one of the typical Frontiers projects but one of the very best from the first album (2005) on, puts out album number three, again with Tony Harnell (ex TNT, ex SHY) singing and totally nailing it. And then there is the remarkable JUDAS PRIEST cover of…well, “Starbreaker“. Contemporary melodic metal with a great sense of intelligent arrangements and exciting songwriting. Probably “Euphoria“ would have been a more fitting album title…

MARTIN STARK

listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QmF0cZZsL2g

An amazing record for all lovers of STARSHIP and the likes. Guitarist Stefano Viana gathers excellent and extremely talented musicians like e.g. Bryan Cole (STEELCITY), Anna Portaluppi (b, HARDLINE) or Terry Brock (STRANGEWAYS) for backing vocals. The Italians give a strong statement with “Forever Free“ of being another great melodic band out there. The title track or “Heart Of Stone“ will easily prove. That’s how melodic rock should sound like.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zFy6rernCE

“Born To Fly“ is the first sign of life in almost thirty years for the Americans. Their hard rock emerges somewhere between the seventies and the eighties. Pretty essential stuff for fans of TESLA or GREAT WHITE or more recent bands of that very style like RED DRAGON CARTEL. Powerhouse vocalist Mickey Finn delivers and puts his very signature on the songs. Check out “Born To Fly“ and “A Little Bit Easy“.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AemDcIxO6Uo

A The new solo effort of former ALICE COOPER guitarist KANE ROBERTS on which his mentor can be heard, too, has got all sorts of styles on board. Modern metal, classic hard rock or even gothic. “The New Normal“ covers it all. Only the songwriting is pretty average. Somehow a mixture of experimental ALICE COOPER of the early 2000s and bands like FEAR FACTORY, but interestingly at times even quite melodic (“The Lion’s Share“).

MARTIN STARK

listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgO_L_n7m10

Turbulent days with line-up changes followed the writing and recording of “Ride To Nowhere“, album number three of the British five-piece. The band - or rather the solo-project of Nathan James (v) - makes a lot right and delivers on quite a high level but like on the first two albums there are not one or two really outstanding tracks. Let’s hope the album title is no prophecy of any kind. Would be a real pity, though.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oeb1As36m3k

EVERGREY from Sweden and their dark melodic metal with lots of progressive elements have recently returned to their former glory. Tom Englund (v) and his unique voice full of melancholy and power highlights the versatile and complex material in many ways. Again a bit harder compared to the last two - very strong - efforts, “The Atlantic“ manages to fully convince old and new fans in all respects (songwriting, production, performance).

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBne5lE66u0

Again another live album from the Frontiers label, recorded in 2018 on their own festival in Milan, Italy. Once again a live document in great quality delivering anthems like “Cum On Feel The Noize“ or “Bang Your Head“ as well as a track from „Metal Health“ by the name of “Thunderbird“ that has never been played live before. New frontman James Durbin has to fill great footsteps (Kevin DuBrow) but does a really good job. Comes as CD/DVD-package. 

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGwP2JUSSlQ

As highly rated collectibles go the Alpha Centauri album has to be one of the most coveted records of all time. It’s an album that spent years lurking in the shadows, heard by few but lauded quite rightly as a masterpiece of 70s rock, embroidered with the all the moves and grooves of the great headlining acts of the day. Compared favourably to such heavy hitters as Deep Purple, Uriah Heep, Styx, Angel and Head East, the band’s style was a formidable blast of pompous energy but not, it must be said, a carbon copy or pastiche. Issued in 1977, on the band’s own Salt Records label, the album is a masterclass in heavy pomp rock. Rock Candy re-issue, digitally remastered.

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOTox9kVVNM

This is a really welcomed reissue of this, The Scream's only album "Let It Scream", a record that flew under the radar when it was first released, but has subsequently become one of the most respected and revered releases from the early '90s. It represented a high point for blistering blues-based hard rock, akin Badlands (Ray Gillen guest backing vocals), Cinderella, Aerosmith, etc. "Let It Scream" was recorded in L.A., the result of an experienced line up that featured former members of Racer X and Americade, fronted by former Angora singer John Corabi. Produced by industry legend Eddie Kramer (Led Zeppelin, Kiss, Fastway) and originally issued in 1991, the album is a riot of riffs and thrills. Rock Candy re-issue.

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=44H4i5NRyhI

Sammy Hagar’s five album tenure with the Capitol records label concluded with "Danger Zone" (1980), a particularly gutsy album that moved the guitarist away from his more considered song writing style to a fuller and more polished hard rock sound. Hagar recruited British engineer Geoff Workman fresh from recording Journey’s breakthrough album "Infinity". That wasn’t the only Journey connection as both vocalist Steve Perry and guitarist Neal Schon made guest appearances. Originally issued in 1980, the record contained ten golden hard rock nuggets including the cut and thrust of openers ‘Love Or Money’ and ‘20th Century Man". Rock Candy re-issue, digitally remastered.

listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R1m4bQi3RU

There are few guitarists who have created as big an impact on rock music as Steve Jones. As one of the founding members of the Sex Pistols it was Jones who outlined the band’s sound, with his mountainous guitar riffs and unbridled energy pushing the material way beyond the red zone. His debut solo album, "Mercy", was a regarded as a tentative step towards redemption but it was "Fire And Gasoline", the follow up album, that really saw his creative juices flow freely. Produced by Mark Dearnley with help from The Cult’s Ian Astbury. Fire And Gasoline was also bolstered by some interesting guest appearances, most notably from the CULT’s Ian Astbury and Billy Duffy, and Axl Rose. Rock Candy re-issue.

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6nSud23dHs

When the Sex Pistols disintegrated in 1978 Steve involved himself in a number of diverse projects but also faced some serious lifestyle issues. Relocating to the USA, amidst a period of serious drug dependency, he looked to a process of recovery by building a career as a solo artist. Signed to MCA, his debut solo album Mercy, issued in 1984 was a unique and somewhat surprising statement from a man who had previously been viewed as a maverick guitar hero. Produced by Bob Rose (Miami Vice Soundtrack) and Jones, the album is built primarily around melodic rock songs (written mostly by himself) that, by any other artist, may have been labelled AOR. Rock Candy re-issue, digitally remastered.

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIWQhMjPblY

A mixture of melodic metal and sleaze rock from Finland. The third effort of the Finnish outfit feat. TAROT keyboarder Janne Tolsa is full of great hooks and a great portion of edgy rock which can be heard not only in the rough vocals taking you by storm. At times sounding like a light version of THUNDERSTONE or STRATOVARIUS but always very catchy. LAZY BONEZ know how to rock. Lots of guitars, lots of keyboards and more importantly, a lot of fun. “Kiss Of The Night“ is an early highlight of the year.

MARTIN STARK

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sb6afb2FLk

“Nightwalker“ is seventies hard rock through and through. The Swedish classic Rock outfit around new frontman Johan Fahlberg (JADED HEART) could be the next big thing. Foremost the bluesy and dark “Death Laughs At You“ gets you immediately. The rough “Cockroach“  or the heavily blues-infused “Never Again“ are highlights, too. At the end of the day,  a strong record capturing the listener and letting the limits of time and place vanish.

MARTIN STARK

listen:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Q18NSmlijg

This live double CD was recorded in their hometown of Birmingham, with Avantasia’s Tobias Samett reprising his duet with Bob Catley on ‘Lost On The Road To Eternity’. Also adding backing vocals at various stages throughout the night were Lee Small (Lionheart/Shy/Phenomena). The set list is a good mix of newer songs and Magnum classics such as ‘The Spirit’ and the finale ‘When The World Comes Down’. Bob Catley’s voice may sound a little huskier at times, notably on ‘All England’s Eyes’, however he still puts the emotion into his singing and you can imagine him doing his hand movements throughout the gig! Keyboards player Rick Benton is firmly established now, adapting the keys parts on the epic ‘Don’t Wake The Lion’.

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbhBpZGFcEs

The new album from the iconic British hard rock outfit, released as the band enter their third decade, is a collection of radically reworked versions of songs from throughout their extensive catalogue. This album will raise eyebrows, hackles and heartbeats in equal measure. ‘Please Remain Seated’ is the sound of a band taking a strange journey into their own music, but also distilling thirty years of playing together in order to create something truly compelling, taking in flavours of rock, blues, jazz and soul along the way. Over the years Thunder have proven that they are one of the UK’s finest ever Rock bands time and time again, and ‘Please Remain Seated’ should silence any remaining doubters.

watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4efyXwSoqs

The second studio album from Derby’s The Struts. It’s bigger, more glam and sounds better than ever. An insanely catchy album, don’t plan on listening to anything but The Struts for a while after cueing this up! The Struts are like a cross between T. Rex, Queen, The Night Flight Orchestra and The Rolling Stones. Luke Spiller has this natural showmanship that is impossible to compare to anyone but Freddy Mercury. The songs they produce have a rock and roll swagger with a larger than life dynamic. The combination is stunningly enjoyable from start to finish, if this record doesn’t put a smile on your face, I doubt that anything will. Glam Rock is back with a bang and there are new kings in town.

She is one of the finest Canadian Rock singers, she fronted for 36 years celebrated melodic rockers Headpins recording 3 albums, and she did backing vocals of countless '80s records. In August 2016 Darby performed the last gig with Headpins and from this date she's now under her own monicker. The "Flying Solo" stuff is a compilation of songs recorded by Darby Mills during the '80s / early '90s, released under the 'Darby Mills And The Unsung Heroes' moniker, long time out of print. All the material has been digitally remastered for the first time, and it sounds million bucks. Easily among the best female fronted AOR ever recorded, all the songs on this CD are fantastic and simply utterly essential for really every AOR lover !

listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=twSnnbE6rPg