The first solo album of KROKUS frontman Marc Storace. Style-wise it’s no surprise, you get solid hard rock with a familiar voice which is still in good shape, though. The songs, apart from the title track which is based on an old song idea of Marc, are brand new. They are straight-forward and you immediately want to see them performed live on stage. Therefore, STORACE carries on the legacy of a band that made him sell millions of records worldwide and put Switzerland on the map of rock eternally.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/BLampqUUzDY

“Letting Go” is the debut album from British act LIFE OF A HERO consisting of current members of Midnite City & Vega and boasts the unique vocal talents of Russ Grimmett – son of the legendary singer Steve Grimmett (Grim Reaper). When you have the guitarist, bassist, and drummer of Midnite City performing together here, you only can expect quality, add to that Russ Grimmett’s impressive vocals and a strong, punchy melodic hard rock / AOR songwriting plus a production inspired by the glorious era, yeah, we have a winner here. Midnite City’s Pete Newdeck not only play, but also mixed & produced, and the whole thing has been mastered by Harem Scarem’s very own Harry Hess, who also features as a guest vocalist.

Watch:https://youtu.be/5W6ZYN3LvBc

ZELBO is a melodic rock project of Norwegian keyboarder player Dag Selboskar who played with DA VINCI in the eighties already and also with STREET LEGAL. Slightly playful but astonishingly melodic songs which capture you right away. “Phoenix Rising“ would have been a major hit some 30 years ago, I guess, and so would be the beautiful ballad “Wild Young And Free“. Huge melodic rock and AOR sounds all over the place.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/I8Jk7h_TrzQ

Melbourne five-piece classic hard rock outfit WICKED SMILE may not be a familiar band yet, but if the metal Gods are taking notice, their debut album ”Wait For The Night” will change that. Produced & mastered by Danger Danger / The Defiants dio of Paul Laine and Bruno Ravel, the band delivers here a melodic, catchy, but at the same time a flat out, ball tearing, gut punching hard rock album that guarantees to keep you ‘smiling’ long after the CD finishes. If you are a fan of classic, straight up heavy rock that is meant to be played loud, then this band is definitely for you! ‘As the press release states: “If you’re a fan of bands like ’80s Priest, Maiden, Dio, Icon and Skid Row or just good old Eighties heavy rock you should love this.

Watch:https://youtu.be/aWkQJke4HRk

Swedish outfit around Daniel Flores (d) and Angelica Rylin (v) with their sixth album. Once again a concept album and a very special one, though. It’s the continuation of the story from MIND’S EYE’s last album going all back to 2007 as Flores’ former band has still got quite a following in the Underground. Partly progressive, constantly very melodic and pretty atmospheric foremost these twelve songs sound.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/O0OcjtEih4o

Progressive Rock from Sweden which is fascinating from the beginning. Initially formed by Andrée Theander (g) und Erik Wiss (keys) some fifteen years ago, now active with a slightly different line-up. If you are into FLOWER KINGS, SPOCKS’S BEARD or neo prog in the vein of PENDRAGON, you can’t go wrong here. Chandler Mogel (OUTLOUD) on vocals. “Shadows On The Wall“ or “As long As You Believe“ easily showcase the sheer quality of this band.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/GKJKEm9sXeU

AGARTHIC play cool symphonic metal and emerge from the North of Italy. Powerful sound full of drama, pathos and metal. A little bit of EDENBRIDGE, some slices of NIGHTWISH and EPICA can be heard. Mattia Gosetti (b) und Valeriano De Zordo (v) are the driving forces here as well as producer Aldo Lonobile (SECRET SPHERE). Mature songwriting and a multi-layered production are two further arguments to pay attention to this band.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/calFAMAOpWo

LAND OF GYPSIES (formerly known as GANG OF SOULS) is the collaboration of Terry Illous (XYZ, ex GREAT WHITE) and Fabrizio Grossi (b, GLENN HUGHES) who play melodic hard rock with a little bluesy twist. Somehow a mixture of BAD COMPANY and FOREIGNER but with a contemporary production. Eric Ragno (LONDON, CHINA BLUE) on keyboards. Just check out the groovy “Shattered“ for a first impression.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/PPJrtIfF5HM

Cool and pretty much eighties-influenced progressive metal in the vein of early DREAM THEATER or QUEENSRYCHE played by this Swedish band. The long track “Imprisoned“ is as impressive as the rest of the material for the most part. 45 minutes of sheer explosive creativity and musical talent, powerfully produced and equipped with lots of interesting breaks with some out of this world sounds. “The Light In Your Eyes“ is another track to check out first.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/CO9aG_rSHho

Neo-classical metal in the vein of YNGWIE MALMSTEEN from Japan. “Synra Bansho“, already published in Japan in September, comes now here with an European bonus cut by the name of “The Earth Bounder“. For fans of the genre „Synca Bansho“ is a great choice and beats the last record of their obvious idol easily e.g. in terms of production. Pretty guitar-driven stuff but also singer Sunghoon Kim is a really good one. Mix and master by Alessandro Del Vecchio.

MARTIN STARK

Watch:https://youtu.be/e4dzpZPboCU