|
N E W S L
E T T E R
05/02/2008 | | |
|
Howdy melodic
rockers,
Christmas may come earlier for you, cause the new cracker
from BROTHER FIRETRIBE “Heart Full Of Fire” will be already in stock
by next Monday, which means nearly two weeks prior to the official
release. It will be ready for ordering through our website later
today.
Together with the ARRIVAL CD feat. the mighty Mark Free
this will be another nice week for AOR lovers.
Don’t forget to check
our label website http://www.metalheaven.net/ for the latest news,
soundbytes and video clips !
Have a great
week
Georg
|
FIRES OF BABYLON - Fires Of
Babylon |
A: 11 € |
B: 13
€ | | |
|
|
Wow, what a
monster! The FIRES OF BABYLON debut album really kicks the
shit out of your ears! The band's leading heads are guitarist
Lou St. Paul
(WINTER'S BANE) and vocal
maestro Rob Rock
(ex-IMPELLITTERI) of whose heavy
riffs and powerful vocals rule this album. The line-up gets
completed by bass-player Kelly Conlon
(ex-DEATH) and skinsman
Bob Falzano
(ANNIHILATOR) who also do an
excellent job and lay down an extremely tight rhythm-layer.
FIRES OF BABYLON's music can be described best as an mixture
of classic VICIOUS RUMORS, ANNIHILATOR and Rob Rock's solo
stuff enhanced with some progressive elements in the vein of
early QUEENSRYCHE. And even though the ten songs primarily
live on their heaviness, Rob Rock manages to refine them with
some strong vocal melodies. So with the exception of the
erratic „Generation Of Destruction“ the FIRES OF BABYLON album
rocks on a constantly high level and delivers a blast of
uncompromising Power Metal. Besides the outstanding
„Devilution“ the strongest songs can be found in „When The
Kingdom Comes“, „Lake Of Fire“ and „Castles Burning“. Listen
to those four songs and any headbanger goes shedding some
tears of joy. Metal fans don't miss the FIRES OF BABYLON
debut!
MARCO
SPÄTH |
|
| |
|
INCRAVE
- Dead End |
A: 11 € |
B: 13
€ | | |
|
|
Incrave hails from Sweden and was formed in
2001 under the name Evergrace. In 2006 they released their
self titled debut album, which was a pleasant surprise in my
book. In February 2007 Evergrace decided to change their name
to Incrave and they re-released their debut album. (The album
title was change to ‘The Escape’).
In summer 2007
Incrave entered
Studio EVG in Edsbyn Sweden, to record the follow-up to ‘The
Escape’. They decided to call their brand new album ‘Dead End’
and sound and style wise they have chosen to follow the same
path as on their debut album. We are talking melodic metal
here… crunchy melodic metal and bands like Tad Morose,
Nocturnal Rites, and Morgana Lefay comes to mind when ‘Dead
End’ rotates in my exhausted
CD-player.
Just like their debut album ‘Dead End’
needs a few spins to grow, but after a couple of spins their
songs comes alive. This album is packed with catchy yet
crunchy guitar riffs and catchy choruses that show a band with
the potential to make it out there. The more I listen to it
the more I like it and it’s hard for me to get songs like
“Shattered”, “The forgotten”, “An Empty Soul”, “Scream in
Silence”, “Nevermore” and the title-track “Dead
End” out of my head.
Well... I’m quite curious to hear what
they can come up with on their next album. -Can they maintain
their high standard? – Will they change their style? – Let’s
see what the future brings.
http://www.powermetal.dk/
85/100 |
|
| |
MASQUERADE - Masquerade +4 video
clips |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
Masquerade is a
Swedish band formed in 1988. The band has since their early
days been appreciated for their skill of craftsmanship. Their
hard work started to pay off when their first demo cassette
and single was met with rave reviews in England's Metal Hammer
magazine. In 1992 the group released their debut album simply
titled Masquerade on Sweden's Dino Music Records. The record
was produced by the band and Ronny Lahti (Electric Boys, TNT)
was brought in for the mixing. Masquerade received favorable
reviews all over Europe and Japan with their splendid mixture
of mega catchy harmonies straight out of the Def Leppard
songbook and their razor sharp guitar riffs in the vein of
Ronnie LeTekro of TNT fame. Digitally remastered re-issue
incl. 3 live video clips (Japan 1994) and the promo video clip
for “Sudden Love
Affair”. | |
JIM - Jim
+4 |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
ALIEN singer Jim Jidhed has
been often praised as one of the finest European AOR voices of
all time. With his band ALIEN and their selftitled debut
(1988) they succeeded in the big way in Sweden, but the
lacklustre follow-up “Shiftin’ Gear” pretty much
flopped. That’s why the record company (VIRGIN) hired some of
the finest Scandinavian musicians for the solo debut of Jim
Jidhed. Produced by Ole Evenrude and backed by Björn Boge (DA
VINCI), Trond Holder (WIG WAM) and Sven Dag Hauge (FATE) Jim’s
solo debut is full packed with ultra catchy AOR anthems
besides some cover versions and a must have buy for every
Scandi AOR lover. Digitally remastered re-issue incl. 4 bonus
tracks. | |
DANNY JOE
BROWN BAND - DJB |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
Danny Joe Brown, erstwhile
vocalist for Jacksonville based multi platinum rockers Molly
Hatchet, which rocketed to success and then, just as they
looked like consolidating their burgeoning superstar status,
Danny quit. Opting to call his own shots he set about forming
the Danny Joe Brown Band, which like Hatchet featured a three
guitar army, including childhood friend Bobby Ingram. The
‘DJB’ album is about as good a Southern Rock record as you
will ever hear. With impassioned vocals and copious lead
guitar playing, the songs are superior examples of a much
maligned and now largely defunct genre. Indeed, it houses two
of the movement’s greatest signature tracks; ‘The Alamo’ and
‘Edge Of Sundown’, the latter contains an extended guitar
showdown in the finest Southern Rock tradition. Rock Candy
re-issue, digitally
remastered. | |
DOC HOLLIDAY
- Doc Holliday +2 |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
During the 1970’s, the
glorious Sunshine State of Georgia had been a fertile breeding
ground for home grown Southern Rock nurturing, amongst others,
the Allman Brothers Band, Grinderswitch, Doc Holliday and the
Atlanta Rhythm Section. Introduced to renowned English record
producer Tom Allom (Judas Priest) the coupling appeared an
unlikely marriage but the natural bonhomie of both
parties proved hugely infectious helping to create one of the
most impressive debut albums from a Southern Rock band since
the glory days of the Allman Brothers Band and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Embraced by their peers and feted in the media, Doc Holliday’s
debut album quickly became the must have Southern Rock record
of 1981, a work that is still praised to this very day and
cited as one of the highlights of the genre. Rock Candy
re-isssue, digitally
remastered. | |
MOLLY HATCHET
- Beatin’ The Odds +4 |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
Molly Hatchet, from
Jacksonville, Florida, were one of the biggest and best of the
‘new wave’ of Southern rock bands whose self titled debut
album appeared in 1978. It confounded the critics by selling
over a million copies making them one of the most popular live
attractions in the US. With the appointment of new front man
Jimmy Farrar they crafted yet another classic slice of
southern fried rock, the prophetically titled ‘Beatin’ The
Odds’, becoming yet another platinum success story. Like its
predecessors, ‘Beatin’ The Odds’ is another masterpiece of
loud and proud southern rock with guitars a blazing and guns a
firing. New boy Jimmy Farrar fits the role like he was born
for the job whilst the triple lead guitar work of Duane
Rolland, Steve Holland & Dave Hlubek would even give
Skynyrd a run for their money. Rock Candy re-issue, digitally
remastered. | |
AIRBOURNE -
Runnin’ Wild |
A: 12 € |
B: 14,5
€ | | |
 |
Since the old veterans of
AC/DC show no ambition to release a new studio, the fans of
riff-oriented Hard Rock have to find an alternative. Well,
here it comes! Australian newcomers AIRBOURNE have finally
recorded their official debut album. The band around brothers
Joel and Ryan O'Keeffe still hav the dynamite in their ass
that AC/DC continuously lost since “Back In Black”. The
guitars roar on ten, the drums kick the shit out of your ears
and the vocals have the Jack Daniels-factor that any Bon
Scott-fan expects from a good Hard Rock band. Songs like
“Stand Up For Rock N Roll”, “Too Much Too Young” and “Runnin'
Wild” leave no doubt about it, that AIRBOURNE are about to
relieve AC/DC. What a
highlight! | |
BROTHER
FIRETRIBE - Heart Full Of Fire |
A: 14 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
The Finnish five piece
around LEVERAGE singer Pekka Heino and NIGHTWISH guitarist
Emppu Vuorinen created a big buzz with their fave raved debut
“False Metal” and to be honest, their follow-up “Heart Full Of
Fire” turns out even stronger. This album is pretty close to
perfection and would deserve a rating of 100%, but this mark
is only reserved for albums which stood the test of time. The
total of nine absolutely fantastic melodic rock anthems and
two great ballads takes BROTHER FIRETRIBE to the olymp of the
current melodic rock scene, cause their material kicks out the
sh** of the old dinos like JOURNEY, SURVIVOR and cohorts,
which would die to write such breathtaking tunes these days
! | |
GLENN HUGHES
- F.U.N.K. |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
On Glenn Hughes' last solo
albums the Funk influences did slowly increase and “First
Underground Nuclear Kitchen” (= “F.U.N.K.”) marks the height
of this development. So if you hoped for an album in the style
of Glenn Hughes' former band DEEP PURPLE or his solo release
“From Now On”, then probably you will be very disappointed of
his new record. Well, but even though I am open-minded to Funk
influence in Rock music, I don't see many positive aspects
about “F.U.N.K.”. With the exception of “Love Communion” the
album doesn't include any really rousing song. The new
material just lacks of class and dynamics. Glenn Hughes may
feel happy about “F.U.N.K.”, but I guess most of his fans are
not.
M.SPÄTH | |
KIP WINGER -
From The Moon To The Sun |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
Probably I will receive
another complaining email from Frontiers Records for this
review, but I can't help from calling “From The Moon To The
Sun” the weakest solo album in the career of Kip Winger. No
doubt, the first three tracks, “Every Story Told”, “Nothing”
and “Where Will You Go”, sound excellent, but the rest of the
album is just a waste of time. Maybe Kip Winger's musical ego
is happy about how the other songs turned out, but for the
Melodic Rock-fans they are almost unbearable. Obviously Kip
Winger has forgotten that a good album is not only about
his creative freedom, but also about the quality of songs. So
at the end of the day, a single with the frist only three
tracks on it would have been enough. M.
SPÄTH | |
MICHAEL KISKE
- Past In Different Ways |
A: 13 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
Many HELLOWEEN fans still
have fond memories of the band's former singer Michael Kiske
and I am sure they were looking forward to “Past In Different
Ways”, an album for which he recorded acoustic versions of
some old HELLOWEEN songs. Unfortunately Michael Kiske decided
for songs of which the majority did already fail in its
original versions. Well, and since most of the songs were
arranged as ballads after half of the album you already have
to struggle with boredom. I am sure, if the album was recorded
live and with a set consisting of HELLOWEEN classics, then it
would have become a real killer. Well, Michael Kiske decided
to go another way that I am afraid not many fans enjoy to
follow...
M.SPÄTH | |
ROBBIE DUPREE
- Time And Tide |
A: 12 € |
B: 14,5
€ | | |
 |
The “maestro” of the real
west coast sound has his first new studio album since “Smoke
& Mirrors” (1995) on offer, but if you have expected an
allstar line-up as a backing band you’ll be disappointed to
hear that Robbie has recorded “Time And Tide” with his live
band (Larry Hoppen on guitar, Rick Chudacoff on bass, David
Sancious on keys, Peter Bunetta on drums and Leslie Smith
playing congas). Nevertheless the quality both in terms of the
musicianship and the production is top notch, but please don’t
expect any kind of rocky west coast stuff like Toto or Airplay
– this is laid back west coast stuff in his purest format
which we all knew from artists like STEELY DAN or DONALD
FAGEN. | |
MALICE - The
Rare And Unreleased |
A: 12 € |
B: 14,5
€ | | |
 |
Founded
firmly in the Judas Priest camp, Malice was a highly
impressive Los Angeles based Metal band noted for strenuous
live work. Not only did Malice sound like Judas Priest by
warrant of their heavy European guitar riffing but vocalist
James Neal, a practising Buddhist, sounded uncannily like
Judas Priest frontman Rob Halford and guitarist Jay Reynolds
was a deadringer for Judas Priest guitarist K.K. Downing.
Malice's insistence on wearing studded black leather only
compounded the comparisons. This compilation contains 18 rare
and unreleased recordings incl. the 4 PAUL SABU produced songs
from the EP “Crazy In The Night” plus tons of early demo
material. Some of them like “Air Attack”, “Stellar Masters” or
“Godz Of Thunder” made it on their eponymous debut “In The
Beginning”. The sound quality varies from excellent to
decent. | |
KEEL - Lay
Down The Law |
A: 13,5 € |
B: 15,5
€ | | |
 |
Keel was a mildly
successful mid 80's rock band that got rave reviews, but never
seemed to be able to capitalize on their positive press. The
group was voted the best new metal act in many of the rock
magazines of the time, and although their brand of pop metal
was in vogue at the time, Keel seemed to get lost in the
shuffle. Upon the demise of Steeler, a band that
also included guitar virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen,
vocalist/guitarist Ron Keel formed a new outfit that fit in
with the Sunset Strip metal explosion. He rounded out the band
with Marc Ferrari (guitar), Bryan Jay (guitar), Kenny Chaisson
(bass) and Bobby Marks (drums). The debut impressed Kiss' Gene
Simmons so much that he agreed to produce the sophomore effort
and helped Keel sign a major label record deal. First time
ever on CD, digi
pack. | |
KIM MITCHELL
- Fill Your Head With Rock + DVD |
A: 4,5 € |
B: 5,5
€ | | |
 |
CD Greatest
Hits: 1. Rock N Roll Duty (3:42) 2. Monkey Shine (4:37) 3.
Big Smoke (6:08) 4. Wonder Where & Why (3:46) 5. Stickin
My Heart (4:44) 6. Fill Your Head With Rock* (5:16) 7.
Lick Yer Finger (4:01) 8.
Lager & Ale
(3:15) 9. Human Condition (5:16) 10. World's Such A Wonder
(4:57) 11. Kimosabe (3:56) 12. Get Lucky (Boys & Girls)
(4:06) 13. Skinny Buddah (6:21) 14. Find The Will (4:53) 15.
Go For Soda (3:26) 16. I Am A Wild Party
(4:25)
DVD Live
1989:
1. That's The Hold 2. Rocklandwonderland 3. The Crossroads 4.
Lost Lovers Found 5. Battlescar 6. All We Are 7. That's a Man
8. O Mercy Louise 9. Easy to Tame 10. Patio Lanterns 11. Go for Soda 12.
Rock N Roll Duty (region free, NTSC, plays world
wide). | |
MITCH PERRY -
The Mitch Perry Projects |
A: 4,5 € |
B: 5,5
€ | | |
 |
The MITCH PERRY PROJECTS covers the
period of the late 80s – early 90s and basically concerns 2
bands in which guitarist MITCH PERRY played. The first is BADD
BOYZ, whom released a CD somewhere in 1992 and 7% SOLUTION
during the Grunge area in the USA. Both released demos and all
can be heard on this CD. The sound is crystal clear as it
should be and the music is what I would like to call KICK ASS
MELODIC ARENA ROCK in the tradition of WHITESNAKE, XYZ, DOKKEN
and BATON ROUGE. Of course the lead vocals of PAUL SHORTINO
are making this CD even more interesting, because he is an
awesome singer in the DAVID COVERDALE style, which can be
heard in sensational songs like “Straight to my heart”
(uptempo melodic rocker) and the beautiful ballad “Hear Your
Heartbreak”. It’s a pity not all of the songs feature the
wonderful vocals of Paul, because then this CD would have been
totally
superb. | |
RICHARD MARX - My Own Best
Enemy |
A: 5,5 € |
B: 6,5
€ | | |
 |
Things
got pretty quiet at the Richard Marx camp when it came to own
new releases, but the US sunny boy was pretty busy during the
last coup-le of years writing songs for other artists and not
even that, he also won a Grammy together with Luther Vandross
in February 2004. Four long years has gone since Richard’s
latest effort “Days In Avalon”, which was still a very mellow
album, but carried some infectous tunes like the title track.
“My Own Best Enemy” sees Richard Marx back in a much rockier
vein and tracks like “When You’re Gone”, “One Thing Left”,
“Love Goes On” or “Ready To Fly” are potential single hits and
could be easily out of his “Rush Street” or “Repeat Offender”
albums.
| |
SHA BOOM -
The Race Is One |
A: 5,5 € |
B: 6,5
€ | | |
 |
The lovers of the classic Scandi AOR
sound will praise the day already after the first spin of this
phenomenal comeback from singer and band leader Dag Finn, as
it sounds exactly like an amalgam between Treat’s “Pleasure
Principle”, “Dalton’s “The Race Is On” and Sha-Boom’s
“R.o.c.k.”. Full marks goes to Tommy Denander, which was in
charge of the production and co-wrote a couple of tracks, as
he has beefed up the bit cheesy Sha-Boom sound from the past
into a superb AOR direction. Backed by nearly the entire
Swedish muso “mafia” (Marcel Jacob, Kee Marcello, Ian
Haugland, Mats Leven, Mic Michaeli) “The Race Is One” turnes
out as the ultimate reincarnation of the classic Scandi AOR
sound! | |
SNOW - Snow |
A: 4,5 € |
B: 5,5
€ | | |
 |
The
Brasilian band SNOW is the latest addition to the British Z
Records label rooster and got praised by the label as an
amazing debut with killer hard rock songs. Well, at my point
of view it’s just another talented newcomer which tries to
jump on the 80s flavoured US hard rock bandwagon, but totally
lacks in terms of an own identity and real standout
songs. Their style reminds me of the rockier edge of BANGALORE
CHOIR and HEAVEN’S EDGE meets the softer side of SKID ROW, but
while this bands had plenty of killer tunes, SNOW just
delivers songs which sounds like outtakes from those bands.
Overall this is just another decent newcomer which comes and
goes like many others
bands. | |
|
TNT
- Live In Madrid – DVD + CD |
A: 7 € |
B: 8,5
€ | | |
 |
Region code:0 Norm:NTSC/PAL
Sound:Dolby 5.1
Tracklisting: 01. Invisible Noise, 02. As Far As The Eye Can See,
03. Downhill Racer, 04. A Fix, 05. She Needs Me, 06. Give Me A
Sign, 07. Guitar Solo, 08. Caught Between The Tigers, 09.
Listen To Your Heart, 10. Black Butterfly, 11. Seven Seas, 12.
Forever Shine On, 13. Fantasia Espanola,
14. My Religion, 15. 10,000 Lovers (In
One), 16. Intuition + 16 Track Audio
CD
| |
|
VENGEANCE
- Back In The Ring |
A: 4,5 € |
B: 5,5
€ | | |
 |
The new VENGEANCE album
really is a positive surprise! Singer Leon Goewie's
performance simply is breathtaking here and totally 80's as
well - perfect screams all over! Musically, the album offers a
strong tendency to their early years and also to the VICTORY
sound of the mid 80's. Especially the opener and title track
is real killer of a song. Besides Goewie, there is not much
left here of the original VENGEANCE but the album really does
him right. Rock n' roll, melodies, catchy hooks and chorusses
- "Back In The Ring" offers it all. The winners are: "Bad
Attitude“, „Rip It Off“ and „No Mercy“, and the 80's Hard
Rock fans who'll decide to put this gem into their
collection.
| |
|
FIREHOUSE
- Rock On The Road – Japan DVD |
A: 26,5 € |
B: 32,5
€ | | |
 |
Region code: 2
Norm: NTSC/ PAL
Sound: Dolby 2.0
Tracklist: 1. LOVER'S LANE 2. OVERNIGHT SENSATION 3. ALL SHE
WROTE 4. OUGHTA BE A LAW 5. HELPLESS 6. 6. DON'T TREAT ME BAD
7. ROCK ON THE RADIO 8. HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS 9. DON'T
WALK AWAY 10. SHAKE & TUMBLE (live 1991 in Japan) 11. LOVE
OF A LIFETIME(VIDEO
CLIP) | |
|
NIGHT
RANGER - Japan Tour `83 – Japan DVD
|
A: 32 € |
B: 38,5
€ | | |
 |
Region code: 2
Norm: NTSC/ PAL
Sound: Dolby 2.0
Tracklist: 1. OPENING 2. PLAY ROUGH 3. PENNY 4. RUMOURS IN THE AIR
5. EDDIE'S COMMIN' OUT TONIGHT 6. CALL MY NAME 7. PASSION PLAY
8. TOUCH OF MADNSS 9. SISTER CHRISTIAN 10. SING ME AWAY 11.
NIGHT RANGER 12. CAN'T FIND ME A THRILL 13. DON'T TELL ME YOU
LOVE ME 14. AT NIGHT SHE SLEEPS 15. (YOU CAN STILL) ROCK IN
AMERICA 16. ENDING (live
1983) | |
|
IAN GILLAN - Live In Anaheim -
DVD |
A: 16 € |
B: 19,5
€ | | |
 |
Region code: 2
Norm: PAL
Sound: Dolby 5.1
Tracklist:
01. Second Sight (Intro) 02.No Laughing In Heaven 03.Into The
Fire 04.Hang Me Out To Dry 05.Have Love I’ll Ravel 06.Wasted
Sunsets 07.Not Responsible 08.No Worries 09.Rivers Of
Chocolate 10.Unchain Your Brain 11.Bluesy Blue Sea
12.Moonshine 13.Texas State Of Mind 14.Sugar Plum 15.When A
Blind Man Cries 16.Men Of War 17.Drum Solo 18.Smoke On The
Water 19.Trouble 20.Knocking At Your Back Door (live
2006) | |
|
HAREM
SCAREM - Raw And Rare - DVD |
A: 18 € |
B: 22
€ | | |
 |
Region code: 2
Norm: PAL
Sound: Dolby 2.0
Live At
Firefest IV (2007): 1. Dagger 2. Human Nature 3. Caught Up
In Your World 4. Paint Thins 5. With A Little Love 6. Killing
Me 7. If There Was A Time 8. Don’t Come Easy 9. Voice Of
Reason 10. No Justice 11. Karma Cleansing: Mood
Swings Tour (1994): 1. Saviors Never Cry 2. Empty
Promises 3. Slowly Slipping Away 4. Sentimental Blvd. 5. If
There Was A Time 6. Mandy 7. No Justice 8. Distant Memory 9.
Honestly 10. Stranger Than Love 11. Guitar Solo 12. Had
Enough: Clips: 1. All Over Again 2.
Guitar Solo 3. Recording vocals for Slowly Slipping Away 4.
Mixing acoustic tracks 5. Darren;
Tour Clips (1997):1. Turn Around 2.It’s Gotta Be 3.Headache
4.Climb The Gate
| |
APRIL WINE -
I Like To Rock - DVD |
A: 15,5 € |
B: 18,5
€ | | |
 |
Region code: 0
Norm: NTSC/PAL
Sound: Dolby 5.1
Tracklisting:
1. BIG CITY GIRLS
2. CRASH AND BURN 3. TELLING ME LIES
4. FUTURE TENSE 5. LADIES MAN
6. CROSSFIRE 7. GYPSY QUEEN
8. BETWEEN YOU AND ME 9. BAD TOYS
10.ONE MORE TIME 11.21ST CENTURY MAN 12.ROLLER 13.I
LIKE TO ROCK 14.27 15.ALL OVER TOWN 16.I WANT TO ROCK (live in
London 1981)
| |
|
MILLION - 05/23
MICHAEL BORMANN -
05/23 | | |