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AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 06/09/2019 |
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Howdy melodic rockers,
Time to talk business due next week
(Tuesday or Wednesday to be precise) with a full bunch
of new Frontiers titles incl. The Defiants and the new
Crashdiet album on top for melodic- and hard rockers.
To keep an eye into the week after we
should get our very own September releases from AGE OF
REFLECTION and ROBERT TEPPER and the eagerly awaited
final AXE album is also just around the corner.
wishing you a great week
Georg & Monika
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JIMI ANDERSON GROUP - I Belong
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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JIMI ANDERSON is one of the best hard rock vocalists out there these days. Astonishingly enough, “I Belong“ is the only the second solo effort of the Scottish-born vocalist although he has been around in the business for decades. It’s an album that comes from the heart. A versatile and songwriting-wise very interesting album which on some songs connects with the fate of American natives. A mature album of an artist who feels home in many stylistic areas like hard rock, ballads and blues and everything fits like like a glove naturally. A real gem is the powerful and melodic „Wonderful Tokio Nights“. An amazing artwork and a careful production with lots of details complete the picture here.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_bIzKQGc8Y |
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ROCKETT LOVE - Greetings From Rocketland
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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“Greetings From Rocketland“ puts a smile on your face. Swedish outfit ROCKETT LOVE lead by Stefan Westerlund (g) and Daniel Samuelsson (v) put out their sophomore album. The songs are a little bit heavier for the most part than on the debut but there are still lots of melodies and powerful arrangements all over the place. Despite or maybe because of that the ballad “Take Me Home“ as well as the first three songs by the name of “Back On My Feet“, “Bite The Bullet“ and “I Want Out“ are highlights, too. In “Like An Endless Distant Sky“, the Swedes surprise with a slightly modern approach. Mixed by Erik Martensson (ECLIPSE, W.E.T.). A strong contender for the 2019 Top Ten of the genre for sure. Lovers of TREAT, H.E.A.T. or MIDNITE CITY will absolutely dig this.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEmf9vjnCNA |
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ALIEN - Alien - 25th anniversary (2 CDs)
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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Even though the ALIEN debut is 31 years old now it has lost nothing of its magic. In particular the two anthems “Only One Woman” and “Tears Don’t Put Out The Fire” are still a wet dream for any AOR fan. This reissue contains the original Scandinavian version with Jim Jidhed on vocals as well as the later US-version with new singer Pete Sandberg on vocals on some songs. Furthermore the re-release contains the two bonus tracks “Feel My Love” and “Touch My Fire” which make this album even more essential. Go and get your copy asap! Ltd. edition of 1000 copies ! |
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watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEqz6afo4x8
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9m7uBnBfYdo |
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EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!
THE DEFIANTS - Zokusho
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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“Zokusho“ immediately connects with the brilliant debut of 2016. Candy for fans of DANGER DANGER is the fact that Steve West plays drums here which makes it 100% the line-up of DD 1994-2004. If “Hollywood In Headlights“ or “Hold On Tonite“ for instance doesn’t bring you tears of joy and good memories of the times when melodic rock and AOR commercially produced hit after hit, you’re absolutely wrong here.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIcnJzX43H0 |
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CRASHDIET - Rust
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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The first album of Swedish sleaze rock outfit with new vocalist Gabriel Keyes. They bring back arena rock and spice it (as usual) with a spoonful of punk. The album title is misleading because there is all but rust over the record. Catchy tunes like “Into The Wild“, “Idiots“ or “We Are Legion“ put a smile onto everybody’s face and due to a pretty powerful production (Chris Laney), “Rust“ is one of their best, if not the best effort of the band.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fE1wPv7eNA |
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BLOCK BUSTER - Losing Gravity
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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BLOCK BUSTER play hard rock best to be described as a mixture of AC/DC and MOTÖRHEAD or EXTREME and BON JOVI with slices of the ROLLING STONES or even THE DARKNESS. The Finnish band shows a great potential even though not all songs share the same high level of songwriting. Especially frontman and guitar player Aarni Metsäpelto absolutely delivers. So relax, they are out there, the fresh and exciting bands of the genre that are heavily missed at times.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSLjFRZueJo |
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VICE - 3 Fingers Up
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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VICE, coming from Southern Germany, represent party rock - or better: They did. “3 Fingers Up“ follows a different path and can’ be considered as party rock anymore. There are nine new songs, a remake of their classic tune „Made 4 Pleasure“ and a JOAN JETT cover (“I Hate Myself For Loving You“) to be heard as well as way darker guitars and a mix of alternative rock, punk and metal for the most part. Having the history of the band in mind, this makes it a brave effort…
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5-8unGdNZo |
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SINNER - Santa Muerte +1 (ltd. edition digi pack)
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A: 14,5 € |
B: 17,5 € |
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“Santa Muerte“, the seventeenth (!) SINNER album, offers a new interesting detail in form of female vocals (Giorgia Colleluori from ETERNAL IDOL) on a few songs. But on the other hand their mostly THIN LIZZY-influenced hard rock remains mostly untouched stylistically. It sounds like the heaviness is a little bit tamed but the songwriting is still going strong. Check out both the single “Fiesta Y Copas“ and the heavy “Last Exit Hell“.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLkPTtSzMwg |
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KXM - Circle Of Dolls
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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KXM is made of Dug Pinnick (v/b, KING’X), George Lynch (g, DOKKEN, LYNCH MOB) and Ray Luzier (KORN). And as versatile as their bands, the songs on “Circle of Dolls“ are although - probably because of Pinnick’s voice everything is closer to KING’S X stylistically than to KORN for instance. Certainly not an album full of hits but rather stuff for people digging progressive rock sounds with heavy guitars.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAhExetws2Q |
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MASTER OF CEREMONY - Signs Of Wings
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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“Signs Of Wings“ is the debut album of AVANTASIA guitar player and producer Sascha Paeth (HEAVEN’S GATE) and his new band. Female vocalist Adrienne Cowan (SEVEN SPIRES) and the fact that “Signs Of Wings“ is heavier than the rest of Paeth’s recent works (e.g. “The Time Has Come“) are noticeable right away. Highlight is the anthem by the name of “Weight Of The World“. But in general, one of those albums that need a couple of spins to fully develop their potential.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lkY08Jxwe4 |
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ZAR - Sorted Out (digi pack)
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A: 12,5 € |
B: 15 € |
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Second ZAR album, the band of guitar player Tommy Clauss, and the first one with Thomas Block on vocals who replaced John Lawton (ex URIAH HEEP). It’s finally re-issued. Not as strong as the 1990 debut but still a pretty strong hard rock record from Germany. Still a beautiful song, the ballad „Carry On“ as well as “Stranded Heart“ with its remarkably high vocals. Comes as a digipack, limited edition of 500 copies only.
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yqmn-s_8xI |
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NEW RELEASES IN STOCK !
THE REMBRANDTS - Via Satellite
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A: 13,5 € |
B: 16 € |
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After a long hiatus - 18 years to be precise here - there is new music from the band of Danny Wilde (v) and Phil Solem (g). THE REMBRANDTS and their pop rock with single elements of midwest rock which will probably eternally connected with both the hit “Just, The Way It Is, Baby“ and the title track of the TV-show “Friends“ is more than relevant in 2019, too. Good stuff for fans of TOM PETTY or GLASS TIGER. The single “How Far Would You Go“ gives you a very good impression of what to expect.
MARTIN STARK
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EaceFeQVbKo |
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BLACK STAR RIDERS - Another State Of Grace
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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The band deriving from THIN LIZZY-fame with Scott Gorham (g) and Ricky Warwick (v/g, THE ALMIGHTY) delivers finest britisch hard rock for years. The newest album „Another State Of Grace“ has it all. Despite a new line-up, you get the heaviness, groove and sophisticated lyrics in e.g. the ballad “Why Do You Love Your Guns“ which seems to be more true than ever. BLACK STAR RIDERS manage to bridge the gap from the legendary Irish band of the late seventies to how hard rock should sound like in 2019.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VVvp_jnUX8 |
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SONATA ARCTICA - Talviyö
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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Finish outfit SONATA ARCTICA and their versatile melodic metal is still relevant after almost twenty of putting out albums. “Talviyö“ is not a concept album but the songs are losely connected and according to mastermind Tony Kakko (v/keys) they melt emotions, melody and melancholy to a harmonious piece of art with metal power. That’s absolutely true. A little bit of STRATOVARIUS, a little bit of HAMMERFALL and a lot of artistic freedom and amazing melodies, that’s what you get here.
MARTIN STARK
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8imDPFtw2P4 |
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JOHN NORUM - Face The Truth (digitally remastered)
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A: 11 € |
B: 13 € |
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Dutch label Music On CD in association with Sony Music has reissued the first two JOHN NORUM solo albums, long time of of print. The sound quality has been clearly beef-up thanks to modern mastering transfer technology. “Face The Truth” is Norum’s second solo album, featuring the great Glenn Hughes on lead vocals and former Europe band mate Joey Tempest. Comparing this album to Norum’s debut "Total Control", this second album sounds much more Americanized, still intense, refreshing and with a classic hard rock feel. The line up is completely different: Glenn Hughes is on lead vocals, and Peter Baltes (Accept, Don Dokken) hits the bass. As said above, this reissue sounds million bucks.
watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6zp1dfYftQ&list=OLAK5uy_ngRfUDOaxa-eObpDeD4Z03B3cmwbrISDw |
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TOTAL STRANGER - Total Stranger +1
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A: 13 € |
B: 15,5 € |
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An overlooked little gem, "Total Stranger" originally appeared in 1997, not the best era for this sweet type of timeless melodic rock. Simply titled "Total Stranger", this is one of the finest albums in the genre from the second half of the Nineties. But these Canadians didn't care about trends and created this lovely melodic rock / AOR album inspired by the classic sounds. Fronted by Al Langlade - who always reminded me of Paul Laine and his time in Danger Danger - "Total Stranger" is full of hooks, melodies and synths in the vein of Von Groove, Harem Scarem, Tyketto, etc. This reissue features a new cover art and an additional bonus track and is simply a must have for every serious AOR- and melodic rock lover.
listen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAnjyl_j4uY |
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AGE OF REFLECTION - 09/27
ROBERT TEPPER - 09/27
TOM KEIFER BAND - 09/27
AXE - 09/27
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