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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 19/04/2019 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
The extra long Easter weekend with
national holidays on Friday and Monday is already pretty
close, so time for a full update right now. As you can
see below Frontiers has settled an extreme strong bunch
of new titles feat. Fortune, Hardline, Jim Peterik,
Michael Thompson Band, Alan Parsons, Leverage due next
week and with the addition of the new Astral Doors album
this might be a really special week for melodic- and
hard rock lovers.
Tickets for H.e.a.t. festival 2019
(due November the 30th/December the 1st) are available
from our website. Artist confirmed so far incl.
STAGE DOLLS, CATS IN SPACE,
ROBERT TEPPER,
STAN BUSH, TREAT, CRASHDIET, MAVERICK, AGE OF
REFLECTION, BLOOD RED SAINTS, VEGA, BLACK DIAMONDS,
DEGREED, DEVICIOUS and there is much more to come .
Listen to our upcoming May 2019
release from X-ROMANCE at www.metalheaven.net!
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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MIKE MACHINE - Alive
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Fight To Survive (Edit)
In Your Dream (Edit)
It's My Life (Edit) |
MIKE MACHINE, a new band from the endless vaults of Sweden consisting of former and current musicians of power metal outfit CRYONIC is coming up. Their former frontman Michael Löfqvist has got a very pleasant and multi-layered voice. “Alive“ contains ten tracks for which the album title fits like a glove. Bombastic rockers like “Alive“, “Paradise“ or “Fireball“ as well as the ballad by the name of “It’s My Life“ immediately creep into your brain and stay. Great stuff for fans of HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, ZAN CLAN or MÖTLEY CRÜE, of course. Powerful production and no filers at all! That’s the way it should be! Another track to check out is the wonderful groover “Living On The Road“, capturing the feeling within the band for sure.
MARTIN STARK |
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watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YULqm97Gzmo |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
FORTUNE - II
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Frontman Larry Greene (HARLAN CAGE) and the Fortune-brothers Richard (g) and Mick (d) and their melodic rock/AOR hit the spot here. The third but simply “II“ titled album opens with the rocker “Don’t Say You Love“ and contains ten tracks that take no prisoners (“Freedom Road“) and is full of anthems and melodic gems (“Shelter Of The Night“) or ballads (“Heart Of Stone“). Somewhere in the territory of SURVIVOR, STYX, FOREIGNER, ASIA or even JOURNEY.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrvKqCzheQI |
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MICHAEL THOMPSON BAND - Love & Beyond
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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“Love And Beyond“ is Westcoast like it should be. Melodies, guitars which are not too hard and a lot of emotions. The American is known foremost as a session guitarist who worked with the likes of CHER, SHANIA TWAIN or even MICHAEL BOLTON to name a few only, but he's also responsible for the mega classic MTB debut "How Long", originally released in 1988.. hhis new solo effort is definitely worth listening to as he offers great songwriting, a strong production and a lot of musical talent to cut it short and it brings back the classsic sound of "How Long".
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d_SE9SdYqkg&t=48s |
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HARDLINE - Life
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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HARDLINE these days are basically „only“ Johnny Gioeli (v, AXEL RUDI PELL, CRUSH 40) and no more the supergroup around Neal Schon (g, JOURNEY) from the the early nineties. But the magnificent songwriting of Alessandro Del Vecchio (keys, REVOLUTION SAINTS) is genius. Check out the fast “Place To Call Home“, the hook-monster “Take A Chance“ or the mighty ballad “This Live“. Furthermore, “Who Wants To Life Forever“ by QUEEN is all but an easy song to cover. Cool!
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9cTgCiOne8 |
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JIM PETERIK & WORLD STAGE - Winds Of Change
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Everywhere where JIM PETERIK has been or is involved, let it be SURVIVOR or PRIDE OF LIONS, or in this case WORLD STAGE, you get finest melodic Rock. And if you add iconic artists like Kevin Cronin (v, REO SPEEDWAGON), Danny Vaughn (v, TYKETTO) or Lars Säfsund (v, WORK OF ART), it’s the best you can imagine. These thirteen tracks are magic, especially “Love You All Over The World“, one of the last recordings of the late Jimi Jamison.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFv55zoTPaU |
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ALAN PARSONS - The Secret (CD + DVD)
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A: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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ALAN PARSONS plays pop rock with elements of progressive and symphonic rock on “The Secret“, the fist album in fifteen years, too, like he did on his numerous classics. Jeff Kollmann (g), Todd Cooper (sax) or on the track „Sometimes“ Lou Gramm (v, ex FOREIGNER) as well-known musicians which guest on the album. Music to dream away! Almost perfectly produced but without the one and only hit in the vein of “Eye Of The Sky“.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciptb2f8Awo |
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LEVERAGE - Determinus
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Finnish outfit LEVERAGE is back with a new full album after ten years. Melodic sounds somewhere between Finnish icons STRATOVARIUS and melodic acts like BROTHER FIRETRIBE or ONE DESIRE. “DeterminUs“ offers new details in every spin but without being too sophisticated. A little bit average towards the end but nevertheless at least the first half of the record is a class of its own. New vocalist Kimmo Blom (URBAN TALE) is brilliant.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JnKdGnwYKSE |
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ASTRAL DOORS - Worship Or Die (digi pack)
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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The Swedes ASTRAL DOORS are both very hard-working and put out quality releases all the time. Their traditional sound in the vein of RAINBOW, DIO or BLACK SABBATH certainly isn’t unique but for example singer Nils Patrik Johansson is a phenomena. “Worship Or Die“ absolutely proves that this classic sound needn’t be dusty in 2019 and is relevant to the core. The energetic “Night Of The Hunter“ ist the perfect opener to this record.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPQrM0ag96k |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK !
LONERIDER - Attitude
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Steve Overland (v, FM), Chris Ousey (g/keys, HEARTLAND), Chris Childs (b, THUNDER, TYKETTO), Simon Kirke (d, BAD COMPANY) and Brain J Anthony (g) are probably what we can call a supergroup. Definitely closer to classic BAD COMPANY than to FM but definitely a true highlight of 2019. That’s how bluesy hard rock should sound like. For example “Fast Train“ or “Wanted Man“ will take you by storm.
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOFNeQWZteE |
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DON FELDER - American Rock'N'Roll (digi-pack)
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A: 12 € |
B: 14,5 € |
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Legendary former lead guitarist and songwriter of the Eagles, DON FELDER is releasing his third solo effort and arguably the strongest of the three. The album features some of the biggest names in music including Sammy Hagar, Slash, Richie Sambora, Peter Frampton, Joe Satriani, Mick Fleetwood, Chad Smith, Bob Weir, David Paich, Steve Porcaro, Alex Lifeson and more. What’ll make fans even happier is learning that 'American Rock ‘N’ Roll' is as good or better than any music Don Felder has ever made. He seems to be that rare artist who’s getting better with the passage of time. 'American Rock ‘N’ Roll' is a perfect thing, an experience that anyone who cares about the core of rock music needs to have.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ePurip2LZtc |
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FIRMO - Rehab
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A: 6 € |
B: 7,5 € |
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Italian singer and songwriter Gianluca Firmo was the driving force behind the project ROOM EXPERIENCE (2015), which featured Pink Cream 69 singer David Readman on vocals. Firmo wrote the entire album, which was well received from the press and the fans. Three years later Gianluca Firmo is ready to deliver his first solo album by using his own name and handling for the very first time all lead vocals on his own. With the help of his fellow countrymen Davide Barbieri, Mario Percudani and the mighty Paul Laine (DANGER DANGER) on backing vocals you can be sure to get a great slice of classic melodic rock stuff. The vocals of Gianluca Firmo are solid, but he's a better songwriter as a singer !
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpTFtvyE4k0 |
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PLEASURE MAKER - Dancin' With Danger +1
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A: 7,5 € |
B: 9,5 € |
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PLEASURE MAKER is a Brazilian hair metal outfit which has released their debut "Love On The Rocks" in 2004 and the follow up "Twisted Desire" in 2008. After a seven-year break, the band reunited in 2017 to record this third album, “Dancing With Danger”. That means that you get another dose of 80s inspired melodic rock with the occasional touches of glam. Main musical references are Dokken and Ratt as the guitar playing of guiatrist Alex Meister combines elements of both Warren DiMartini and George Lynch. Listeners who are not yet familiar with the band might have a difficult time with singer Claudio's high pitched, banshee like voice but personally it didn't stop me from having a good time with this disc.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU_rh0NB0Ps |
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TONY LEWIS - Out Of The Darkness (digi pack)
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A: 7,5 € |
B: 9,5 € |
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TONY LEWIS is probably best known as the voice and bassist for The Outfield. Along with guitarist John Spinks, the two took the '80s by storm with their infectious songs including “Your Love,” “All the Love,” and “Say it isn’t So.” After Spinks’s untimely passing in 2014, Tony took a four-year hiatus from music but was eventually inspired to begin work on his first ever solo album: "Out of the Darkness". Well... Tony Lewis did it here... "Out of the Darkness" sounds more 'The Outfield' than The Outfield last studio albums. Unexpected to me to listen again The Outfield-related new music, Tony Lewis's solo debut album is a pure delight. True Eighties melodic stuff with the sound / feel of that era perfectly nailed by Lewis.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j8grxHo7uA |
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X-ROMANCE - 05/24
SAMMY HAGAR - 05/10
WHITESNAKE - 05/10
FIRST SIGNAL - 05/17
CRAZY LIXX - 05/17
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