If this newsletter doesn't appear correctly in your mail browser, please visit : AOR Heaven Newsletter

 

AOR HEAVEN ::: N E W S L E T T E R ::: 24/09/2021

 

Howdy melodic rockers,

Well, after getting real crazy with this bloody Rock Candy shipment things turned out fine at the end of the day (and after endless phone calls / mails and whatever) as we received it early this week. But – the tracking at their website showed that the shipment is still in the UK, but it got delivered already at the same day. Needless to comment, but they’re charging me big money for express delivery (usually 3 days max) and they deliver it after 3 weeks and with Covid 19 there is no more chance to get my money back (as it was before) as they always use the excuse of Covid 19 for delays.

 

Anyway, not that many news due next week, but Metallic Blue has two more new titles ready to go (Harlot and V.a.m.p.) which we expect towards the end of next week. King Zebra is already in stock and Mystery should arrive, soon.

 

wishing you a great week

Georg & Monika

 

 

 

AOR HEAVEN RELEASES:

M.ILL.ION - Back On Track

A: 11 € B: 13 €

 

“Back On Track“ is basically a compilation of the best tracks - and there are many - taken of the first three outputs like „Sign Of Victory“, “Judgement Day“ or “Burn In Hell“ of which the debut „No.1“ celebrates its 30th anniversary these days. And (almost) this line-up is back for good. They wrote and recorded three brand-new and really cool songs, re-arranged, re-recorded two tracks from the debut as well remastered everything. Melodic hard rock that probably only comes from out of Sweden. M.ILL.ION are definitely „Back On Track“. Just check out the brand-new “Rising“. 15 great songs of a great band.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/I1hsl7l_VH8

NEWMAN - Into The Monster’s Playground

A: 11 € B: 13 €

 

Barely any artist is as busy these days releasing albums as Steve Newman from England is. His band NEWMAN has put out thirteen studio records by now. “Into The Monsters’ Playground“ pretty much rocks (“Hurricane Sky“ or “Don’t Come Runnin’“) and manages to showcase both classic rock and epic elements (“This Life Alone“). Typical British AOR to please lovers of the genre with different tempos as well as glimpses of progressive bits and pieces (“Icon“). Once again with a powerful and sophisticated production. Did this guy ever put out an album that wasn’t good at least? Absolutely reliable stuff these NEWMAN records! Great material for fans of HEARTLAND, FM or ATLAS.

MARTIN STARK

Listen:https://youtu.be/t_G9MXAs7r4

PETER H. NILSSON - Sign Of Myself

A: 11 € B: 13 €

 

Second album of Swedish guitarist and songwriter who after his 2019 debut “Little American Dream“ strikes back with yet another Swedish-American collaboration. Easy-going, mature melodic rock with quite different approaches on the genre. Chris Biano from Nashville, USA again provides fine vocals with lots of emotions. A timeless record which comes with many highlights like „Time To Remember“, “Breathe“ or “Can’t Come Down“. Great mixture of AOR, Westcoast and a little bit of pop music. Well-produced and offering some cool surprises like the horn-section on the title track which is reminiscent of PHIL COLLINS to a certain degree.

MARTIN STARK

Listen:https://youtu.be/LHjsr6W6mus

 

 
EXPECTED NEW RELEASES !!

KING ZEBRA - Survivors

B: 13,5 € B: 16 €

Swiss hard rockers KING ZEBRA have been around for almost a decade, releasing some singles, EP’s and touring extensively, and now are ready to conquer. With ex- CHINA singer Eric St. Michaels they have found the right guy to bring them to the next level. The band rides the line between modern and traditional old school ’80s hard rock / glam metal with tunes that certainly make them stand out from other rock acts that come from Switzerland.  KING ZEBRA is a band that will certainly make some noise in the hard rock landscape and needs to be heard by both fans of newer and older sounding kick ass melodic hard rock. With the next album they might be able to compete with the "big ones" like CHINA, KROKUS & SHAKRA.

Watch: https://youtu.be/PVsjxSxZQ1s

MYSTERY - Live Life Loud

B: 12,5 € B: 15 €

MYSTERY from Australia play melodic hard rock and they do it with style. “Live life Loud“ is their third effort and the best so far. Eheband offers rock with balls (“To My Kees“ or “I’m Just Into You“) as well as eighties-infused power ballads (“Count On Me“). If you are into CRASH DIET or FIGHTER V, you can’t go wrong here. Another track giving a good impression of the material is the straight rocker “You Think You Know“. Coole album!

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/OcNd0nCD6Xk

HARLOT - Positively Downtown
(digitally remastered)

B: 13 € B: 15,5 €

HARLOT started out under the name V.A.M.P. in 1986 where they wrote an album’s worth of songs. In 1988, the band gained interest from Atlantic Records, but Atlantic Records already had a melodic hard rock band called VAMP and told the band if they wanted to have a better chance of signing a deal, they should change their name. The band complied and changed their name to HARLOT, but Atlantic was no longer interested. They released a 3 track cassette in 1992 with a completely different line-up, followed by their debut "Positively Downtown" in 1993 (a 9 tracker which was also only released on tape initially). A nice slab of US hard rock / hair metal in the vein of Poison meets Babylon A.D.

Listen: https://youtu.be/KC8z1Dg4vSY

V.A.M.P. - Telephone Love Affair +6
(digitally remastered)

B: 13 € B: 15,5 €

Utah based hair metal outfit V.A.M.P. (which stands for VISUAL ARTS METAL PROJECT) started life during the mid eighties with different line-up's and several changes. V.A.M.P. started to play more shows and expanded their network by playing in surrounding states such as Idaho and Wyoming. By 1986 V.A.M.P. had an album full of songs written and recorded, they gained the attention of Atlantic Records. Atlantic was interested in the band but told them that they would not sign them due to the fact that they had just signed a German recording band under the name VAMP.  Out now for the very first time through Metallic Blue records this is high quality hair metal stuff next to Kix, Flame and Babylon A.D.

Listen: https://youtu.be/r77NsvTxbEs

 

NEW RELEASES IN STOCK!!

JOHN DALLAS - Love & Glory

B: 12,5 € B: 15 €

Goodtime rock from Italy with a certain glam factor. JOHN DALLAS (ex AFTER LIFE, ex RED BURN) with his second ever solo effort. Songs mostly in the vein of BON JOVI, DANGER DANGER, H.E.A.T. and VAN HALEN. Many strong tracks that will make you smile. Great to have acts these days who actually care nothing at all about current trends. Let alone the KISS-influenced “Dancing All Night“ shine.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/iewAQTv06do

MICHAEL KRATZ - TAFKATNO

B: 12,5 € B: 15 €

Here Danish artist MICHAEL KRATZ, who won several gold awards in his home country with mainstream pop, mixes AOR and Westcoast which actually works well. There are guest appearances of e.g. Christian Warburg (g, PAUL YOUNG) or Bruce Gaitsch (g, RICHARD MARX). The rather raspy voice of MICHAEL KRATZ might not be everybody’s cup of tea but it makes the record somehow interesting and slightly different. But he can’t hide his pop roots on this record.

MARTIN STARK

Listen:https://youtu.be/gOtolmGhtA0

MAD INVASION - Edge Of The World
(digi-pack)

B: 14 € B: 16,5 €

Mad Invasion may be a name new to many music fans, but in this band, we find some seasoned musicians like Pete Sandberg (Alien, Madison) on vocals, Hal Marabel (Bad Habit) on guitar and keyboards Mats Bergentz (Silver Mountain) on drums. The music on the band’s ten-track debut album “Edge of the World” follows a proud Swedish tradition of melodic hard rock with a slightly modern edge, although Mad Invasion has a bit more traditional 70s hard rock in its music than some of the other bands in the genre. This bunch has managed to establish a signature sound that is somewhat different than the typical melodic hard rock sound where it is often hard to distinguish between different bands.

Watch:https://youtu.be/6PfB6Lrslz4

BRAINSTORM - Wall Of Skulls + Blu-ray
(digi pack)

B: 15,5 € B: 18,5 €

BRAINSTORM is an extremely reliable source for power metal. The newest effort, their thirteenth in total, is no exception from the rule. Majestic melodies and arrangements, thundering drums, energetic guitars and the powerful vocals of frontman Andy B. Franck are crucial here. Tracks like “Solitude“ or “End Of My Innocence“ will be future live standards for sure. Guest appearances by Peavy Wagner (v, RAGE) and Seeb Levermann (v, ORDEN OGAN), who also produced the album.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/9_YJRWnyk8M

 

COMING NEXT !!
 

OSUKARU - 10/22
SIX SILVER SUNS - 10/22
NESTOR - 10/22
STATION - 10/08

AOR - Metal Heaven :: Georg Siegl :: Landshuter Str. 11 :: 84051 Altheim :: GERMANY

phone: ++49-8703-8517 :: fax: ++49-8703-8568 :: e-mail: georg.siegl@aorheaven.com

www.metalheaven.net :: www.aorheaven.com