The debut of the American band is great stuff for lovers of the eighties and bands like DANGER DANGER, DEF LEPPARD, MÖTLEY CRÜE or BON JOVI. Unfortunately, there’s a dark shadow on the record because frontman J. Adler passed away recently. Adler and Paul Alfrery (g) are the two protagonists behind WALK THE WALK. Strong anthems, a powerful production and versatile songwriting that doesn’t have to hide from any competitors, that’s what you get here. Check out the energetic “Running From You“ and the very much classic BON JOVI-sounding “Find The Light“. Also, the slightly sleazy “Two Miles To Go“ is pretty cool. “Walk The Walk“ is one of THE surprises of the year so far.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/zzBFzY4QowE

Second solo album of busy guitar player JOEL HOEKSTRA (WHITESNAKE, TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA, ex NIGHT RANGER). Classic rock with great musicians like Russel Allen (v, SYMPHONY X), Derek Sherinian (keys, ex DREAM. THEATER, BLACK COUNTRY COMMUNION) oder Brian Tichy (d, ex FOREIGNER). Well, there might be one or the other exceptional song missing but nevertheless, “Running Games“ is a really good record all over.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/vP-uu0lzyBI

Nathan James (v) is one of the best hard rock vocalists out there these days, no discussion about that. His band INGLORIOUS on the other hand, had to deal with lots of line-up turbulences and suffered a bit from a lack of cool songwriting but obviously this changed for good with the new effort. “We Will Ride“ is by far the best output of the band from England. Classic hard rock with lots of emotions and sheer energy.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/IJlXCn96qfU

The project of multi-instrumentalist Robert Berry (v) and Keith Emerson (keys) who worked together since 1987 with their second output. “Third Impression“ is full of classic progressive rock , “Top Of The World“) and amazing rather quiet moments (“Bond Of Union“). The record was recorded by Berry and Emerson only, shortly after Emerson unfortunately passed away. Finest music in the tradition of EMERSON, LAKE & PALMER, of course and KANSAS or YES.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/FhZ7-8K2oP0

SIGGI SCHWARZ is a German guitar player and producer (MICHAEL SCHENKER GROUP) who has ten albums (!) out already.  Typical solid seventies and eighties hard rock on these fifteen (!) songs. Powerful but pristine production with some surprises here and there. Timeless music without much fuss and plenty of heart and soul. “The Fire Inside“ hopefully turns this guy into a more acknowledged artist. It would be well-deserved, though.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/riUwVdGqZQA

Power metal with female vocals? Well, CRYSTALLION are an option then. You get a slightly rough and somehow cragged production which nevertheless fits the song material pretty well. Female vocalist Kristina Berchtold, who followed former vocalist Thomas Strübler after fifteen years, might probably divide. But if you are into slightly unpolished heavy metal, just give “Heads Or Tails“ a spin.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/BQ9MY_XL7nI

NATURAL BORN MACHINE from Italy is the brainchild of Alberto Rigoni (b, VIVALDI METAL PROJECT). On vocals you get none but David Readman (PINK CREAM 69, VOODOO CIRCLE)  who is doing one hell of a job bringing the material to life. A great record consisting of versatile hard rock, some rather modern elements accompanied by a few progressive bits and pieces. Just check out the mighty “Moonchild“ and the acoustic “Stone Man“. Well done!

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/Z-7-rl2Fkb0

After a long pause, the second MOTHER ROAD album is finally at hand. The German-American classic hard rockers around Chris Lyne (g, SOUL DOCTOR) and Keith Slack (v, STEELEHOUSE LANE, ex MSG) pick up where the debut obviously left of. Typical American blues-infused hard rock and lots of British counterparts in the vein of BAD COMPANY, HUMBLE PIE or even WHITESNAKE are to be found on the menu. One of the highlights is the Hammond-infused “Spread It All Around“.

MARTIN STARK

listen: https://youtu.be/YiblxZEPE5Q

Heavy metal with more IRON MAIDEN and JUDAS PRIEST elements than neccessary. DURBIN from America lack individuality for the most part. Mainman and vocalist James Durbin can surely sing but at the end of the day, the questions of where to go comes up. The beast should have rested a bit more probably. Even guest appearances of e.g. Chris Jericho (v) don’t make a huge difference here. Dear friends in Frontiers Records, sometimes less is more…

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/GlOzjK3RdAA

Strange band name, though, but kind of cool music. SIMULACRUM from Finland play hot progressive metal. They bridge the gap between the classic seventies progressive rock to the heavy progressive metal nowadays. Frontman Niklas Broman has got quite range and the material might be pretty much appealing to fans of SYMPHONY X, DREAM THEATER or even VANDEN PLAS. Not every song is as good as the highlights like “Traumatized“ or “Scorched Earth“, though.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/791QBx_WHt4

THE NOVA HAWKS is British blues rock with a slice of gospel and comprised of rather dark lyrics. The two protagonists Heather Leoni (v) and Rex Roulette (g) totally ignore all trends and play their own unique style without making any compromises. Sure, this record needs two or three spins more but then many songs offer a certain depth in songwriting. But if Frontiers Music is the right label for such an effort, well, time will surely tell…

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/ByfPOt8RwPQ

It’s the band of former BIGFOOT vocalist Antony Ellis who set sail to new shores called KREEK after the end of his former band. Produced by Dan Rossall (PASSION). Timeless hard rock with its roots in the seventies but without being old-fashioned in any way. Music without much fuss but with a lot of heart and soul. A finer piece of music that thanks to e.g. “At The Bottom Of Hell“ or “Stand Together“ won’t leave the player anytime soon.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/Pr43k1TzYmQ

How does it sound like if many current and former YES musicians record an album? Well, yes, very much like YES. That’s the case with ARC OF LIFE, too. Well-played and produced but also with a certain length at times just like always YES mostly had, too. Just check out the straight “You Make It Real“ or the rather bulky and complex songs in the vein of “The Magic Of It All“. An album with rich details and numerous sounds well-known from the YES universe.

MARTIN STARK

Watch: https://youtu.be/_84UCEDeEkc

A new group without a doubt embodying the return of real rock is called GALE FORCE. The outfit is a driving rock band with something to say, combining infectious guitars & vocals, emotional melodies, gutsy rhythms and time relevant lyrics with line-up to include vocalist Mike Lee (BARREN CROSS), guitarist Tracy G (DIO), bassist Randy Ovideo and rhythm guitarist/keyboardist Paul Alfery (Walk The Walk). Gale Force has been together as a band for not even two years, yet they have put together a powerful album of metallic hard rock that completely sideswiped me. Singer Mike Lee has not lost a step at all vocally, as he is all over this songs from the get-go! Highly recommended for both Barren Cross and Dio fans !

Watch: https://youtu.be/Jb4BWlO1tDw

Originally known as Schoolboys, Icon was formed in 1981 in Phoenix, Arizona by high school friends Dan Wexler (guitar), Stephen Clifford (vocals) and Tracy Wallach (bass). They were joined by future King Kobra guitarist David Henzerling and John Covington (drums). In 1983, the band was signed to Capitol Records, and changed its name to Icon. While the band opted for big hair and spandex image, the sound of their debut ‘Icon’ (1984) is quite heavy, very melodic and catchy, but edgy - like a mixture between Dokken, Lizzy Borden and Quiet Riot. “Icon” had all the necessary elements to become a big success back in 1984..Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch: https://youtu.be/cvCWNspATjY

ICON’s “Night Of The Crime” (1985) is rated by many people as one of the best melodic rock recordings ever! I bet you’d agree, if you listen to killer tracks like the opening ”Naked Eyes” and “Missing” with their great hooklines. But that’s not all! I can’t find any weak track on the whole album: “Danger Calling”, the guitar driven “Out For Blood” or the stadium rocker “Raise The Hammer” are excellent songs with fine melodies and amazing  guitar work. I’m just wondering why the band didn’t get as much success as DOKKEN or BON JOVI - that's indeed the crime of the century ! Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a terrific sound quality - don't miss this mega classic AOR monster album !

Listen: https://youtu.be/nboSZ0u-SqQ

Player epitomized what mainstream soft pop/rock was all about in the late ‘70s – and that was the sound of Los Angeles. The band’s self-titled debut followed through on the promise of their debut hit single, “Baby Come Back". This was laid-back but engaging, and the band displayed some serious musical chops, occasionally sounding like a sweet, streamlined Steely Dan. Some of the same characteristics were evident on their next record, "Danger Zone" (1978), but as that title illustrates, Player is playing harder this time around. Pretty close to what Ambrosia was doing around the same time and highlighted by the singles “Prisoner Of Your Love” and “Silver Lining”. Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch: https://youtu.be/36jMI4tGaSQ

After the release of their second album "Danger Zone" (1978) singer / guitarist and founding member J.C. Crowley left the band. New members Miles Joseph (vocals, guitar) and Gabriel Katona (keyboards, ex-Rare Earth) joined Beckett, Moss and Friesen in the studio for the group's third album, "Room With a View" (April 1980), produced by Peter Beckett with Tony Peluso. Pretty similar in style to "Danger Zone" the album follows the paths of the huge successful west coast AOR style from Toto, Chicago and cohorts, but the album failed in terms of sales and Ron Moss left the band becoming an actor in the TV series "The Bold and the beautiful". Strictly limited Japanese re-issue with a superb sound quality.

Watch: https://youtu.be/grwAm-KY18E